Battle of Premier League strugglers in the Championship: West Ham vs Wolves prediction
West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers will meet on Tuesday, 1 September, in the fourth round of the English Championship. The match will take place in London, with kick-off at 20:45 CET. I am backing goals in this fixture.
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Head-to-head and statistical facts
- West Ham are yet to win in the Championship: two draws and one defeat.
- Wolverhampton have yet to lose this season.
- Wolves have won their last three matches in all competitions.
- West Ham have won six consecutive home matches against Wolves.
- Wolverhampton have not won in London since 2020.
The Hammers cannot escape the turbulence
West Ham are playing their first Championship season since being relegated from the Premier League and have immediately faced a difficult start. The London side opened their campaign with a 2-2 draw away to Burnley before losing 2-1 at home to Charlton. In the third round, the team again failed to win, drawing 1-1 with Watford. As a result, West Ham have just two points after three matches, and the pressure on the team is already mounting.
However, their start cannot be described as completely disappointing from an attacking perspective. West Ham have scored four goals in three league matches, although their defence has yet to look reliable enough. The team have conceded five times and failed to hold on to a lead in two of their three games. For one of the main contenders for promotion back to the Premier League, these statistics clearly need to improve.
It is also worth noting that the London side have already played two matches in the English League Cup. After beating Portsmouth 3-1, West Ham thrashed Southampton 4-1. These results show that the team possess serious attacking potential, although they have so far been unable to reproduce that efficiency on a consistent basis in the Championship.
West Ham's home ground should be a major advantage. The Londoners will surely try to take the initiative from the opening minutes and play on the front foot, as another dropped points could make their position in the table even more difficult. At the same time, the hosts must avoid becoming too attack-minded: Wolves have already shown that they can exploit space and punish opponents for their mistakes.
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Wolves in excellent form
Wolverhampton, by contrast, head into the match in excellent spirits. After their opening two rounds, the team had four points, first drawing 2-2 with Blackburn before comfortably beating Preston 3-1. In the third round, Wolves confirmed their good form by thrashing Stoke City 4-1. As a result, the team have won their last two Championship matches and scored seven goals in the process.
Wolverhampton's attacking momentum is particularly impressive. After scoring twice in the opening round, the team gradually improved their finishing, scoring three times against Preston and four against Stoke City. Wolves have also shown that they are capable of playing attacking football away from home, which will be especially important ahead of their trip to London.
The English League Cup should not be forgotten either. Wolverhampton have already progressed through two rounds of the competition, beating Plymouth 3-0 and Sheffield Wednesday 2-0. The team are therefore coping well with the congested fixture schedule and head into their meeting with West Ham on an unbeaten run.
Unlike their opponents, Wolves currently look like the more complete team. Wolverhampton are playing confidently going forward while gradually improving the quality of their defensive performances. Their 4-1 victory over Stoke City was another indication of the team's strong form, and after three rounds they already look like one of the contenders for a high finish.
What to bet on?
The upcoming match promises to be one of the most interesting clashes of the fourth round. West Ham urgently need to pick up points, particularly at home, but Wolves' current form makes it difficult to be overly optimistic about the hosts. Wolverhampton have won their last two Championship matches, scoring seven goals, and currently look the more convincing side. At the same time, the attacking potential of both teams suggests we can expect an open game. My prediction is for both teams to score.
