Newcastle United v West Ham United
Date: 26/08/2017
K.O: 15:00pm
This weekend St James’ Park will be host to Newcastle United v West Ham, two teams who will be desperate to get their first points of the season and kick-start their respective campaigns.
Newcastle will be looking for a win to brighten the mood in the Toon, especially after they were knocked out of the League cup on Wednesday by lower league Nottingham Forrest 2-3 after extra time. It has been the same story in the league for Newcastle, losing both of the first two games and leaving them dwindling at the bottom end of the table. Their last league game was also a disappointment as they lost 1-0 away to Huddersfield Town – a performance that was very much below par for a Premier League team.
However, the visitors will be hoping to push on from their victory against Cheltenham, where they ran out as 2-0 victors to secure their place in the next round. This win will boost Slaven Bilic’s team’s confidence as they lost their first two games in the league consequently leaving them cemented to the bottom of the table.
Although there is hope for the Hammers who missed out on their first point of the season after a soft penalty was given against them in their away 3-2 defeat to Southampton, in which they fought back with ten men from 2-0 down to 2-2.
Team News:
Newcastle will be without key defenders Florian Lejeune and Paul Dummett as they are still injured from their opening day fixture. They will also be without Jonjo Shelvey who is still suspended.
West Ham on the other hand will be welcoming back Cheikhou Kouyate, Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll who will be looking for a starting berth in the squad. Although they will be without Winston Reid after he pulled his hamstring in the warm-up against Southampton and Marko Arnautovic who is suspended.
West Ham will want to be moving up the table this weekend after missing out on a point against the Saints. The Hammers will be looking to be victorious against a downbeat Newcastle side, which do stand a chance but they will need the fans to get behind them and to grab an early goal. Although, Hernandez would be expected to continue his goal scoring form.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-3 West Ham
Written by Henry Tomlinson.