West Ham will start their FA Cup campaign hoping to avoid a banana skin against non-league side Stockport County.
With the FA Cup throwing up some upsets over the weekend, David Moyes will have to make sure his West Ham side are at their best. Last season the Hammers were knocked out of the tournament early by, at the time Championship side, West Brom.
Stockport are eighty-six places below the Hammers in the football ladder. This has not deterred Moyes as the manager has taken a lot of the first team with him on the trip so it would appear that the club are taking the Cup seriously this year.
Due to COVID issues, there will be a lack of opportunities for some of West Ham’s academy players. Moyes will therefore be forced to use much of the first-team. The players will have had almost two weeks to recover since their last match. The Hammers battled past Everton in an impressive performance on New Years Day.
Speaking ahead of the match David Moyes outlined that squad will be full of good players. Many there teams have been able to rotate and use their academy players. The Hammers however have not had this luxury.
"“We have a good squad of players. Most clubs have not been able to use young players because they are outside the bubble. We won’t have a squad of young players.”Moyes on his squad for FA Cup."
Currently tenth in the Premier League, West Ham are enjoying their best start to a season in recent memory. A run in the FA Cup could elevate the teams season to another level. A Europa League spot in the league may be out of reach, but there is another opportunity for one in the FA Cup.
PREDICTED WEST HAM XI
Formation 4-2-3-1
Randolph
Fredericks Diop Dawson Johnson
Noble (C) Soucek
Benrahma Lanzini Holland
Antonio
It would not be surprising to see Moyes’ side look relatively strong. The manager could use the game to give some of his stars a chance to build up their confidence. Said Benrahma could use a chance to grab his first goal and get himself off the mark.
Michail Antonio could also get a chance to start a match for the first time in over a month. The forward is only recently back from injury and needs to get some minutes under his belt. Though the match could see a substitute debut for highly-rated academy striker Ademipo Obubeko.
MATCH PREDICTION
West Ham are clear favourites to win the match and with many of the first-team players set to take part should avoid an upset. Antonio’s pace is dangerous against the best of defenders and should cause havoc amongst the Stockport defence.
The forward has experience against a non-league side from his career and should know what to expect. The creativity of Benrahma, Lanzini and Holland should be effective as Stockport are likely to be on the back foot for most of the match.
SCORE PREDICTION
3-0 to West Ham. Holland, Benrahma and Antonio to score for the Hammers.