Hull City Vs West Ham - e-West Ham Match Preview
Article by Brandon FreemanFollow e-West Ham on Twitter!
Barclays Premier League - The KC stadium, Monday 15th September 2014, K.O 20.00
Current Form
Following the international break West Ham sit in 14th place in the Premier League table having won one of their opening three games, with the hammers only three points of the season so far coming in a 3-1 win to Crystal Palace in their last away outing. Hull City meanwhile currently occupy 11th place in the league table with four points, and like West Ham went into the international break off the back of a defeat, losing 2-1 away defeat to Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa at Villa Park. Sam Allardyce will be hoping his side can put in another impressive performance away from home, whilst improving significantly following a poor 3-1 home defeat to Southampton before the international break. West Ham did take the lead against Southampton just before the half-hour mark through Mark Noble whose long-range shot was deflected in before Morgan Schneiderlin equalised for Southampton on the stroke of half-time. West Ham started the second-half poorly and fell behind in the 68th minute when a controversial corner decision led to Morgan Schneiderlin grabbing his second goal of the game, capitalising on Ward-Prowse’s quick delivery into the front-post. The game was sealed in the 83rd minute as striker Graziano Pelle scored his first goal in English football as the match ended 3-1.
Previous Meetings
West Ham head into the Monday night football with an impressive head to head record against Hull, having won 16, drawn 14 and lost just 10. West Ham’s recent form suggests that this game is unlikely to end in a draw with the hammers having not drawn in 18 games, winning 8 and losing 10. Last seasons meeting at the KC stadium ended in a 1-0 win for Steve Bruce’s side, with Hull taking the lead through a controversial Robbie Brady penalty. The reverse fixture at Upton Park was also one of great controversy with Hull being reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper Alan McGregor was sent off for bringing down Mohammed Diame in the opening half-hour of the game. Mark Noble stepped-up and put West Ham into the lead, however Hull levelled the game early in the second-half through striker Nikica Jelavic before a calamitous own-goal from James Chester secured the points for West Ham. Despite picking-up three crucial points the final whistle was met with a chorus of boos from the hammers faithful as Sam Allardyce cupped his ear to the supporters who were clearly unhappy with the football on show.
Team News
Sam Allardyce will most likely hand debuts to on-loan Barcelona midfielder Alex Song and deadline day signing Morgan Amalfitano, however winger Matt Jarvis and on-loan Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson look set to miss the game as they continue their comeback from thigh and hamstring injuries respectively. Meanwhile Wales defender James Collins is available for selection following a hamstring injury; however captain Kevin Nolan and record signing Andy Carroll will both defiantly miss the game. Hull City meanwhile may be without the services of deadline day signings Hatem Ben Arfa and Gaston Ramirez who are both lacking match fitness but will likely be on the bench whilst striker Abel Hernandez looks set to miss the game as he awaits work permit documentation. However midfielder Mohammed Diame is likely to start against his former club with Michael Dawson is also in line to make his home debut, whilst defender James Chester will also be available following suspension.
e-West Ham Prediction
For me this is a must win game for Big Sam following the abysmal performance against Southampton, and having had the international break to bed in new signings I think we are likely to see a much better performance than we did against Southampton. However, with Hull having made some impressive signings of their own over the summer, particularly on deadline day, I think this is going to be a close game. Nonetheless, I’m predicting West Ham to come out on top, especially given the fact that the squad can play without the enormous pressure that playing at Upton Park has brought in recent games.
Hull City 0-1 West Ham
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