Battle for the top of the Championship! Prediction for West Ham United vs West Bromwich Albion
West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion will meet on Saturday, 31 October, in the 13th round of the English Championship. The match will take place in London, with kick-off at 16:00 CET. I am backing a bet on the winner of this game.
H2H and statistical facts
- West Bromwich are unbeaten in three consecutive matches.
- West Ham are the highest-scoring team in the Championship.
- West Bromwich have conceded in six consecutive games.
- West Ham have conceded just four goals in the second half.
- The Hammers have been unable to win at home in three consecutive matches.
- West Bromwich have not beaten West Ham away from home in the Championship since 2003.
West Ham United
West Ham made a confident start to the season and, after 12 rounds, were among the Championship leaders. The team have collected 22 points, recording six wins, four draws and two defeats. Their goal difference of 32:15 highlights the Londoners' considerable attacking potential, with the club scoring more goals than anyone else in the league.
In October, Nuno Espírito Santo's side produced mixed results. After a 1:1 draw with QPR, West Ham thrashed Lincoln City 6:0 and then secured a narrow 1:0 away win over Swansea. However, in the previous round, the Londoners lost 3:2 to Southampton. The defeat served as a reminder that, despite their attacking firepower, the team are not always able to control the flow of the game or defend reliably.
Jarrod Bowen remains one of the team's main attacking leaders. The captain is capable of creating chances through individual brilliance as well as intelligent off-the-ball movement. He already has six goals and five assists to his name.
West Ham's home form also deserves special attention. Despite their impressive overall scoring record, they have collected just 10 points from six matches on home soil. Against West Bromwich, it will be important not only to start aggressively but also to maintain concentration after scoring.
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich travel to London with 21 points from 12 rounds and sit just behind West Ham in the table. Their goal difference of 16:13 is considerably more modest than that of their upcoming opponents, but the visitors look well organised. Their position confirms that the team are capable of challenging for the higher places while maintaining a pragmatic approach.
West Bromwich's recent results have been inconsistent. The team lost 1:0 to Birmingham, but then snatched a 2:1 victory over Wrexham. In their next match, West Bromwich defeated Blackburn 3:2, before drawing 1:1 with Preston in the latest round.
Aune Heggebø has emerged as one option for strengthening the attack, making a positive impression after coming on as a substitute against Preston. Overall, West Bromwich will need to find ways to beat the opponent's press and make better use of their chances: against a team that have scored 32 goals in the Championship, the visitors are unlikely to be able to afford an open game for all 90 minutes.
West Bromwich's ability to remain patient without the ball and exploit the space left behind after their opponents lose possession could prove a major advantage. West Ham often commit numbers forward, so unsuccessful attacks may give the visitors opportunities to launch quick counterattacks. If West Bromwich can withstand the early pressure, their chances of taking points back from London will increase significantly.
Probable line-ups
- West Ham United: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Morato, Engels, Mukasa, Bowen, Solomon, Kanté, Castellanos.
- West Bromwich Albion: O'Leary, Styles, Campbell, Mepham, Pereira, Molumby, Diakité, Price, Whitwell, Murić, Stewart.
What should you bet on?
A tightly contested meeting is expected between two teams sitting close together in the table and highly motivated to fight for victory. West Ham look more dangerous in attack, especially at home, but their recent defeat to Southampton showed that the Londoners still have problems with defensive discipline. West Bromwich, by contrast, have been picking up points in recent rounds and are capable of capitalising on the hosts' mistakes. The game is likely to produce plenty of goals, and West Ham's greater attacking potential could prove decisive. My prediction is a home win.
