Almost an afterthought, after the weekend’s transfer headlines but there’s a Premier League match to win. The statistics are against Graham Potter as he takes West Ham back to his former club tonight. Eight former Chelsea managers have returned to face their old club – after 22 games, none have walked off with a win – ‘yet’.
Records are made to be broken but that is still a fairly tall order.
Crucially, the game could easily be decided in the first ten minutes: West Ham have the worst record in the Premier League for goals conceded in the opening ten minutes: Nine goals conceded early on is the Hammers’ worst performance in any season of the Premier League.
Combine that with the fact that Chelsea have scored five goals in the same opening period and you’d believe there is an inevitability to a Chelsea early goal.
The Blues’ Nicholas Jackson has been on fire in this season’s London derbies- 11 goals in 14 encounters with London-based Premier League teams is superb and of course he did score against West Ham in August.
However, Chelsea’s form has slipped of late and West Ham’s has picked up – thanks of course to the installation of former Blues manager Graham Potter – the Hammers have a new resilience about them.
If Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville are fit again the Hammers will carry a threat that has been missing for several weeks and one which could give their opponents real headaches.
The game is broadcast live on sky sports so best to get settled in your seat in time for kick off – if the statistics are anything to go by there’ll be fireworks early on. Sadly the people at OPTA – the data analysts and predictors – give West Ham only a 17% chance of picking up the points.
You never know. Who’d have thought ‘Forest would have scored seven times against Brighton yesterday. Just clutching at straws as usual.
Hopefully Westham can keep it tight this time and nick a goal .
Nice article, Martin. Always great to read some interesting stats. 🙂 COYI
Fofana, Badiashile, Lavia and Mudryk all reported as out. Never say never…
So they’re down to their last 36 😂
I’m sure I’ll jinx us but I do have a feeling we will get something (other than a good hiding) 🤞