GSH Hot Takes: West Ham Host Big Sam and West Brom

West Ham host their second straight Premier League match as they look to remain perfect in 2021. The Hammers haven’t lost nor given up a goal since the calendar flipped, but they set to face a West Brom team riding high after a big win against Wolves on the weekend. Our Green St. experts weigh in on their predictions for the midweek match.

Justin: West Ham 2-1 West Brom

I always thought Big Sam was going to get his first win as West Brom manager against West Ham, but he ended up achieving that result a match early. Will that be the game that kicks on West Brom’s survival push? That remains to be seen. But Big Sam will certainly not go down without a fight and his Baggies players will certainly be ready for the midweek clash at the London Stadium.

West Ham will look to continue to keep their perfect record intact, not even allowing a goal in three matches thus far in 2021. I do predict it will be a tough match but I feel West Ham are getting hot at the right moment. The defence has looked even better than before with Craig Dawson and Angelo Ogbonna.

My main question is will West Ham score goals. Will Michail Antonio start, or even play? These are questions marks I’m anxious to see David Moyes answer. All that being said, the Scot has done superbly with this thin squad and I expect West Ham to pull out yet another victory.

Adam: West Ham 2-0 West Brom

Despite the addition of Snodgrass and the loss of both him and Haller for West Ham, the Baggies will be second best in this match simply due to the Hammers’ quality. West Brom can brag an impressive goal record for centre-back Ajayi, but the West Ham defence is one of the best in the Premier League on set pieces and will neutralize any effect Ajayi and his teammates will have.

In attack, two goals may be tough to instigate with Sam Allardyce parking the bus from kickoff and Michail Antonio potentially missing the match due to injury resting. It’ll fall on Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma, and Pablo Fornals to get the goals in this one.

Lou: West Ham 2-0 West Brom

After Saturday’s win against Burnley, I’m a lot more confident about getting a result against a side who will look to play in a similar fashion to the Clarets.

Big Sam recorded his first win as West Brom boss against rivals Wolves, which will give the club a massive boost in morale.

After four clean sheets in a row, however, I think we are professional enough to be able to handle anything they may throw at us with the impressive Dawson and man-mountain Ogbonna at the back.

We should have realistically won by more against Burnley, with wasted chances and key decision making going wrong at crucial moments, and if we can rectify that’s against the Baggies I think we will win even more comfortably this time around.

Jeremiah: West Ham 3-0 West Brom

The two things that West Ham seem to be doing at the moment is keeping a clean sheet and closing out the match. Even though both sides are coming into this match off a win, the Hammers seem to have the upper edge.

This matchup is also a reunion of sorts as McMessi returns to the London Stadium and Big Sam gets a crack at his former club. West Ham will have too much firepower in this one as they should quickly close out the Baggies and keep another clean sheet!

Jack: West Ham 2-0 West Brom

The West Brom game will be a tough one and fans will be looking forward to its given Big Sam is now in charge. We’ll also be briefly reunited with Grady Diangana and Robert Snodgrass at the London Stadium and it will be interesting to see how they both fair against us.

The Baggies picked up a crucial win in the Black Country derby against Wolves on Saturday and will be looking to start a good run of form. We’ll be looking to make it four wins in a row as we look to continue the race for European football.

West Ham United are still in the race for a European spot in the premier league this season.

We might be without Michail Antonio as Moyes is being cautious with his fitness. This could be a massive blow. This either means that Moyes is intending to use Yarmolenko as a striker, call up Mipo Odubeko or he has a deal in place for a striker to come in in time for the game.

Either way, we must hope Moyes has the correct gameplan as it’s vital we get all three points. It will be a tough game and it will be hard to break West Brom down but I think that we will have too much for the Baggies.

Jonathan: West Ham 1-0 West Brom

A Scott and Englishman walk into a bar. Psyche, they never got out of the parking lot outside. Expect a scowl filled match from the current and former West Ham managers. Despite both gaffers’ best efforts, I think this game will end with the ball finding the back of the net, if only just once.

West Ham have more attacking quality than the visitors, which complements the Hammer’s sound defensive shape that has ensured three straight 1-nil victories. Hoping for another one, and another West Ham under to hit.