West Ham vs Swansea
Date: 30/09/17
K.O: 15.00pm
West Ham welcome Swansea to the Olympic stadium this Saturday, with this game already looking like it could be a 6 pointer even this early on in the season.
Both teams are struggling at the bottom end of the table, with both only having one win apiece. West Ham will know positive results against the likes of Saturday opponents Swansea City could prove crucial as they continue to battle at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
The Hammers were perhaps unlucky to leave empty-handed against Tottenham, having started and ended the 3-2 defeat strongly, but will not be buoyed by the presence of Michail Antonio this weekend.
Swansea suffered a morale-sapping last-minute loss to Watford at home last time out and both teams, with just one win to their names after six games, will be desperate for three points against a possible relegation rival come the latter stages of the season. Michail Antonio limped out of Saturday’s loss to rivals Tottenham and will miss the visit of Swansea on Saturday, though should return next week.
Elsewhere, Manuel Lanzini is back in training after a knee injury and has a chance of making the bench. Pedro Obiang and Edmilson are unlikely to be fit in time, while James Collins continues to recover from an ankle concern.
Nathan Dyer may be in contention to make a comeback into the squad after he appeared for the under 23’s last week in a 3-1 defeat to Man City. The winger played 58 minutes after returning from a long-term ruptured Achilles tendon injury. He had been out since February and is hoping to make the squad this Saturday.
Swansea City have no fresh injury concerns and could be boosted by the return of Ki Sung-yeung. Renato Sanches dropped to the bench for the home loss to Watford but may return to the starting XI this weekend. Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham is expected to remain in attack with Wilfried Bony.
Predicted line-ups:
West Ham starting XI: Hart; Fonte, Reid, Ogbonna; Zabaleta, Noble, Kouyate, Cresswell; Ayew, Chicharito, Arnautovic
Swansea City starting XI: Fabianski; Van der Hoorn, Fernandez, Mawson; Naughton, Sanches, Clucas, Carroll, Olsson; Bony, Abraham
Prediction: West Ham 1 Swansea 2 Swansea have been unlucky at times this season, especially at the Liberty Stadium, but there away form has been quite promising. West Ham have really struggled to be at all imposing, though they did have their moment’s last time out. It should be a scrappy affair, but heart and head are telling me Paul Clements team will come away with a much needed win.
Written by Gafyn Donald.
