West Ham VS Watford: Match Preview and GSH Staff Predictions
West Ham United face Watford FC on Friday evening in a vital match that will potentially affect the destiny of the clubs in the relegation battle.
The Hammers won their last match against Norwich in a thumping 4-0 victory. The result of that game meant that the Canaries were relegated and West Ham was left believing they would be all but safe from relegation.
The victories for Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Watford meant that the relegation battle is still as tight as ever. West Ham remains four points clear of the relegation zone and a win over the Hornets would almost certainly be enough to keep the Hammers in the Premier League for the 2020-21 season.
Watford kept pace with West Ham over the weekend as they beat Newcastle United 2-1. The Hornets are tied with the Hammers on 34 points and will be looking to put more distance between themselves and the bottom three.
The Hammers won the reverse fixture at Vicarage Road by three goals to one. Mark Noble scored an early penalty and Sebastien Haller scored the other two after Andre Grey brought Watford temporarily level. The two goals were Hallers first in the Premier League.
Team News
David Moyes will still be without midfielder Robert Snodgrass. The Scot has been injured since the restart with a back injury. There are hopes Snodgrass will return at some point before the end of the season, but the Watford game will come too soon for his return.
On the positive side, Moyes may have Felipe Anderson back at his disposal. Anderson has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the Chelsea game but could be named on the bench on Friday evening.
In terms of team selection, the squad will have had their longest rest since football returned. Therefore it is unlikely Moyes will make any changes to the starting eleven that tore Norwich apart.
One change, however, that could be made is a return to the starting eleven for Sebastien Haller. The French striker scored a brace against Watford in the reverse fixture and he could be given a chance to improve on his tally on Friday.
Watford boss Nigel Pearson will still be without Daryl Janmaat and key forward Gerard Deulofeu who are both sidelined with long-term injuries. Issac Success is another forward that will miss the game against West Ham, he has been injured since June with a calf injury.
Pearson’s biggest concern will be the fitness of captain Troy Deeney. The 32-year-old was forced off in the match against Newcastle and left the ground with a limp and bandage wrapped around his knee.
Speaking to broadcasters after the Newcastle game, Pearson spoke about his captain’s fitness:
"“Troy has what I would call a ‘grumbly knee’ that he has to manage on a daily and weekly basis. This is nothing new, it’s something which he’s come to terms with and has to manage, so you may see him with a bandage today, but it’s nothing new”."
So it is likely that Deeney will be able to make an appearance against the Hammers as long as his knee is properly managed throughout the week.
Predicted Starting XI’s
West Ham United: 4-3-3
Fabianski, Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Noble, Fornals, Bowen, Antonio
Watford: 4-2-3-1
Foster, Fermenia, Kabasele, Dawson, Masina, Capoue, Hughes, Sarr, Doucoure, Welbeck, Deeney