West Ham head to Bolton’s wonderfully named Toughsheet stadium for an 8pm kick off tonight along with more than 4000 away fans who will brave the rain and undertake an eight hour round trip to watch. Fair play to the Hammers’ away fans who will likely get to witness a West Ham victory at this ground for the first time in the club’s history.
Nuno’s options are tricky to assess, with three games in eight days meaning the Irons’ boss would undoubtedly like to share out the minutes and offer some respite for weary legs yet injuries to his two forwards means neither Pablo nor Taty are likely to start.
Possibly in line for a recall? Lewis Orford
The consensus seems to be that the thirty four year old Joel Veltman will be rested with Kyle Walker Peters assuming the right back duties: There’s a chance Lewis Orford will start alongside Arne Engels in midfield with Divine Mukasa pushed forward and assuming the number ten role alongside Joel Piroe.
This would make Nuno’s starting XI as follows:
West Ham – Nuno’s predicted starting line up:
Hermansen | Walker Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Scarles | Bowen, Orford, Engels, Solomon | Mukasa Piroe
Which does look a trifle ‘experimental’ for a Nuno Espírito Santo line up. I can’t help thinking he’ll find a way to be more cautious with his attacking options and hang onto his newly found successful pairing of Mukasa and Engels in midfield – but – one lone striker? What would you do?
Score predictions:
Sean 2 – 0 West Ham win
Gonzo 3 – 0 West Ham win
Martin 2 – 1 West Ham win
Matt 1 – 0 West Ham win
Another clean sweep of optimism for three points which would send West Ham heading towards the top of the table. Nuno’s official XI will be published at 6.45 tonight – so check back later.
Surely another win for the irons who can push on now , with goals being scored by any number of players & Nuno finally getting it right , 4-1 West Ham .
For as long as I care to remember, these are the types of games where we somehow manage to make an awful opposition look like world beaters.
Trotters, fresh from a drubbing, us riding high.
What could possibly go wrong?
BW 2 – Hammers 2
Obviously, I hope that I’m wrong and the boys return with another three points.
COYI
I think Martin or Matt are likely to be right, a narrow win. I’d prefer not to see Scarles who always seems to have an error in him while never seeming to have the bit extra.