Pundits expect West ham to lose at Goodison

Three so called football pundits have West Ham down to lose this weekend while the Hammers arch enemy, Mark Lawrenson says a draw is on the cards at Goodison park.

West Ham’s last win at Goodison Park came over 10 years ago on 14th December 2005 when a David Weir own goal together with a Bobby Zamora strike saw off Everton 2-1.  You had to go back another ten years for the previous away win when Tim Breaker scored the only goal on New years day 1994.

“You have to expect goals here, and plenty of them – Everton bagged another three at Villa on Tuesday night – and I just favour the home side to win a lively game 3-2,” pundit Michael Owen wrote on Colossusbets.com.

Former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie Redknapp  has also backed Everton to pick up all three points from the game against West Ham courtesy of a 2-1 victory.

“West Ham have spent a lot of energy in midweek against Tottenham, brilliant result for them, but I think Everton with Barkley, Lukaku as well, will just edge this one,” said Redknapp on the Sky Sports website.

Paul Merson also puts the boot in to West Ham chances saying:

“West Ham have now put themselves in with a shout of the top four. Two weeks ago you would have been thinking that West Ham and Everton have both got the FA Cup to play for, which would have made this game at Goodison Park a ‘make sure no one gets injured’ job.”

“But now West Ham have got a chance of getting in the top four, and so this has become a massive game for them. Everton have got Chelsea in the cup next weekend, but I think they are are a good team and at home they can beat anybody, even a strong side going well like West Ham.”

“It does depend on what sort of team turns up, but Everton have been pretty consistent recently and this will be a hard game for West Ham. I do not think there are many harder games than this away from home and West Ham have just had to work very hard for the Tottenham result and they have a big game next weekend at Old Trafford, so I am going to go for a 2-1 Everton win.“

BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson is the only pundit to predict a draw for the Hammers

“West Ham’s season keeps getting better and better and I think they are as fit, strong and athletic as any team in the league.” says Lawro

“We know that because they keep coming back in away games when they have been under the cosh, and they have got some unsung players in their squad – Mark Noble never gets the credit he deserves.”

“It is a boost for the Hammers that Diafra Sakho is on his way back to full fitness but they are short of available centre-halves, so losing James Collins to a hamstring injury is a big blow.”

“Despite beating Tottenham on Wednesday, West Ham are not getting any mentions when it comes to the title race. I don’t think they are going to win it but they have put themselves in the frame for the top four.”

“Everton, in contrast, are stuck in mid-table at the moment but they can still climb the table too, and that would certainly help attract players if they look to spend big in the summer. Lawro’s prediction: 1-1″