After the disappointment of going out of the FA Cup at the hands of Leeds United, West Ham face Wolverhampton Wanderers in a crucial game. The phrase “must win” has been used so many times this season, but realistically this is it.
If the Hammers lose again to Wolves in what is the first Premier League game of the weekend, it will hand the impetus straight to our relegation rivals. Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United will all be watching closely. Spurs face Sunderland, Forest play Villa and of course Leeds travel to Old Trafford on Monday meaning a long wait to see how the fight for survival unfolds.
This morning ExWHUEmployee spoke to Claret & Hugh and revealed that Nuno will play an attacking team tonight.
West Ham survival hopes hang in the balance
West Ham United return to league action knowing exactly what’s at stake. With just seven games left, this is no longer about performances or progress — it’s about survival.
A win would take us above Spurs and level on points with Forest, which suddenly shifts the pressure elsewhere. Lose, and it’s hard to see where the next win comes from.
There is a bit of cautious optimism on the injury front. Crysencio Summerville, Dinos Mavropanos and Jean-Clair Todibo are all being assessed, while the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Callum Wilson were all pictures training this week.
ExWHUEmployee has suggested Nuno Espírito Santo might even have a full squad available, which — given recent weeks — would be a massive boost. The manager admitted as much during his press conference and Rob Edwards reported only two absentees.
Summerville has been training with his West Ham teammates and looks set to return
Wolves arrive in form and full of confidence
Wolverhampton Wanderers won’t roll over here. Far from it.
Rob Edwards’ side have picked up two wins and a draw from their last three league games, and they’ll see this as a real opportunity to drag another team into trouble while boosting their own survival hopes.
They do have a couple of absentees, with Sam Johnstone and Enso González unavailable, but momentum is firmly with them — and that’s something West Ham have lacked.
Predicted West Ham XI
This is what I think Nuno will go with — not necessarily what I would pick. Therefore, I’m guessing Nuno will start with Summerville on the bench due to him not playing for a month.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Areola |
| RB | Wan-Bissaka |
| CB | Mavropanos |
| CB | Disasi |
| LB | Diouf |
| CM | Souček |
| CM | Fernandes |
| LW | Traoré |
| RW | Bowen |
| CF | Castellanos |
| CF | Pablo |
How this game might unfold
It feels like this comes down to mentality more than tactics.
Wolves will be fresher, there’s no getting away from that, but West Ham are at home and the situation demands a reaction. The London Stadium crowd will expect it, and the players have to deliver.
Jarrod Bowen will be key as always, and if Summerville is fit enough to feature, that could be massive. We’ve seen what a difference he makes.
Prediction
I think we can win this — but let’s be honest, we have to.
It won’t be pretty, and it probably won’t be comfortable, but if the players show the right level of commitment, there’s enough quality in that side to get it done.
Fail to win here, and the conversation around West Ham changes completely. 2-0 to West Ham
I’m not a massive fan of the Americans, especially at the moment. But can we be a little more American about this match and back ourselves and believe in ourselves with a full squad to call on we should be able to change things up if need be. Wolves have beaten us twice and are in good form but I think the only team they have beaten away from home recently is Grimsby.
I predicted a 2-0 win mate
Yes, but you could say the same for a lot of the previous games that we didn’t win. I do tend to agree with your forecast – but I do very much hope that you are right; because, if we don’t win this one , I think the game is over.
Yes Wolves are in good form, of the bottom six only one team has a better record in the last 6 league games….us!
We’ve slipped in the form table, Wolves above us in the last 4, 6 and 8 played. We need to liven our ideas up as this is now cut throat stuff. Cannot afford to do anything less than win, any sodding up now puts us down. Hopefully we’ll squeak it 2-1.
Probably gonna regret this but for some reason I am confident about Friday. Especially as these must win games, we very rarely win and wolves have already done us twice this season. As long as he goes more attacking 4.4.2 I can see 3.0
I look forward to a meal of egg on face and humble pie for afters !
Areola in goal?!? Why?
It’s what I suspect Nuno will do