West Ham take on Wrexham tonight on the back of three consecutive wins which has propelled Nuno’s side to second in the division: A more more comfortable position than just two weeks ago when the Irons sat 19th after their early struggles to come to grips with the Championship.
West Ham haven’t won four games in a row since October 2021 under David Moyes which suggests another victory might be challenging: More concerning, perhaps, is tonights opponent’s recent record in London.
Wrexham haven’t lost a game in London since a 1-0 defeat to Bromley in the FA Trophy final at Wembley in May 2022. The last time in the capital, their 3-0 win at Millwall nine days ago made it eight games without defeat in away games in London since their return to the Football League.
West Ham had a hard start to the season as the ‘big scalp’ of the Championship – hopefully the players have adjusted to life as the division favourites in the second tier now
Whilst few would make them favourites tonight, their head coach Phil Parkinson has described perfectly the boost every visiting side will get this season, raising their game at the anticipation of taking on the Premier League’s’ “fallen giants”, with each opposition player wanting to stand out in front of 60,000 fans:
“”It was certainly a fixture everybody was looking out for when the fixtures came out back in June…..”A fantastic arena, a very famous stadium with the Olympics there in 2012. It is going to be a real sell-out crowd and one everybody’s really looking forward to being part of.
..It’s still an amazing arena to play at and the lads are looking forward to it.
“What a game to be a part of. We’ve had some big attendances over the years, but to be part of a Wrexham team going there to play in front of the highest ever crowd is very special.” (northwalespioneeer.co.uk:)
Coming to terms with the ultra-competitive approach of Championship visitors certainly caused West Ham problems in their first home game as visitors Charlton left with all three points.
Hopefully the initial struggles that the Hammers showed at competing in a faster, more physical, VAR – free environment with teams raising their games are now behind Nuno’s men and that fourth consecutive win is within their grasp.
Win tonight and – briefly – WestHam would go top once again, leapfrogging West Bromwich Albion who take on QPR tomorrow.
Every game at the London stadium is like a cup final for these teams. Must be like us going to play at Wembley stadium or something.
We should show the opposition the reason other clubs in this division should fear us…the pathetic no make that woeful display against Charlton should never be repeated…get on the front foot get the crowd going and lets show the opposition that they have bitten off more than they can chew..no square passing no going backward nope on front foot quick passing and pressure pressure pressure….if we sit back let them grow in confidence with a man like Kiefer Moore up top it could be a problem for Mav and Kilman…so lets not do that Nuno.
Phil Parkinson’s team will approach the game like Bolton did, it’s a cup final and they will try and be up and at us from the off.
We have relatively a young squad, hopefully today Veltman starts and Golembeckis that central defence doesn’t look calm Golembeckis is better than Mavropanos as a defender, Kilman looks solid with either partner which was unexpected but he has earned his place. What Mav does provide and is why he will probably play is goal threat he seems unstoppable at the moment but we do at some point need to give Golembeckis more minutes in league football we will need him in the PL if defensive Nuno returns.