Lawro’s prediction for City v Hammers

The Hammers travel in hope to Manchester City rather than any sort of optimism on Sunday despite Pep Guardiola’s outfit having been beaten home and away in their last two games.

Nobody is assuming anything other than a defeat at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon however when a Hammers team arrives looking for anything – something!

There’s no Raheem Sterling to worry about but that’s small consolation to a side whose shocking defending last weekend against Brighton saw them drag a draw from the jaws of victory.

We have to go on believing because there really is nothing else to do but Mark Lawrenson isn’t one of us of course and reckons we are in for another relegation haunting defeat despite showing well for a long tome against the south coast outfit.

He’s probably right and his scoreline may not be far away from the outcome despite the fact that he only got one correct last week.

He writes in his BBC website column:  “Manchester City’s defeat by Tottenham on Sunday summed up their season. They should have been in front and out of sight long before they were reduced to 10 men and fell behind soon afterwards.

Again, City conceded with the first shot they faced in the game, this time in the 63rd minute. Sometimes, when you are on a run where that keeps happening, as a player you sometimes expect it – you are in control of the game but you haven’t taken your chances and you start thinking “when is the crazy moment coming?”

It has just been one of those seasons for City, but I would still be very surprised if they don’t finish second.

I would also be shocked if they don’t beat West Ham on Sunday.

This Hammers team cannot defend at the moment, as we saw against Brighton last weekend, so City are going to get plenty of chances to find the net this time.

West Ham know they are in a relegation dogfight now, but the problem is they knew that last Saturday too, and it did not seem to help them.

They were great when they were 3-1 up against the Seagulls, but the way they are conceding goals and dropping points from winning positions – 19 this season, a Premier League high – is a massive worry.

That is an issue for their players too, because it will affect their mindset.

Even when they go a goal in front, everyone kind of takes a step back because they know what is coming, and it is very difficult to change that mentality.

Lawro’s prediction: 3-0