Following a late extra-time win in the FA Cup away at Kidderminster Harriers, West Ham now turn their attention to their home Premier League fixture on Tuesday night against Watford. If the Hammers win they can reinforce the idea they are in the top four race.
Hammers Avoid Severe Cup Upset
West Ham avoided a cup upset and ensured qualification for the fifth round of the FA Cup in the most dramatic manner imaginable.
Declan Rice equalised for the Hammers in the 91st minute after The Irons were behind for almost 70 minutes to take the tie into extra time. In stoppage time of extra time Jarrod Bowen tapped home a winner to sink the non-league outfit.
West Ham’s Poor Form
West Ham sit fifth in the league but the Hammers are looking to regain some momentum in their charge to finish in the top four, after losing their last two Premier League fixtures to Leeds United and Manchester United.
Strangely, of West Ham’s eight Premier League losses, six have come in batches of two. Last time West Ham lost back-to-back games in the Premier League, in December, they bounced back with a 4-1 win at Tuesday’s visitors Watford at Vicarage Road in their final game of 2021.
Watford on the other hand are coming into this game following a goalless draw away at Burnley in Roy Hodgson’s first game in charge of the Hornets.
This result meant Watford gained their first clean sheet in their last 31 top flight fixtures and the Hornets will look to build on this by getting their first league win since the 4-1 win against Manchester United in mid November.
West Ham Premier League form:
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West Ham form (all competitions):
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Watford Premier League form:
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Watford form (all competitions):
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West Ham Team News
David Moyes announced that Michail Antonio will be back for the Hammers after being away on International duty with Jamaica.
However the Hammer’s boss also stated that he will be without Arthur Masuaku and Manuel Lanzini who are both out with injuries.
Watford Team News
Watford will welcome back striker Emmanuel Dennis who served a one-game suspension in the goalless draw against Burnley following his red card against Norwich.
The Hornets will be without Nicholas Nkoulou who is out with an injury and Ismaila Sarr who has not yet returned home after winning the African Cup of Nations with Senegal.
Intriguing Facts
West Ham’s Mark Noble has scored six Premier League goals against Watford, his most against a single opponent.
Five of those have been penalties with only Alan Searer ever scoring more penalties against a single opponent in the Premier League (7 v Everton).
Emmanuel Dennis netted in the reverse fixture, which saw Watford lose 4-1. The last Hornets player to score both home and away against the Hammers in the Premier League was Gerrard Deulofeu.
Hodgson and Moyes have faced each other a total of 12 times with the West Ham manager winning seven of the games (D2 & L3)
Possible Starting Lineups
West Ham:
Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell ; Rice, Soucek ; Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma; Antonio
Watford:
Foster; Femenia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara; kucka, Kayembe, Sissoko ; King, Dennis, Sema
Eagerly Anticipated Prediction
West Ham 2-0 Watford
An unexpected Watford victory is not out of the realms of possibility, although West Ham are sure to revert to their strongest XI after the fringe players were close to being stunned by Kidderminster.
Hodgson has already placed a greater emphasis on defensive solidity at Vicarage Road, but Moyes’s side should reignite their European charge with all three points here.
Vital Match Information
Teams : West Ham United vs Watford
Stadium : London Stadium
Competition : Premier League
Date : Tuesday February 8th, 7.45pm GMT
Channel : BT Sport
Officials
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants : Lee Betts, Richard West
Fourth Official : Simon Hooper
VAR: Paul Tierney
Assistant VAR: James Mainwaring
