West Ham face a Bournemouth team bang in form at the London Stadium tomorrow. The Cherries started the season well having lost several key players, dipped mid-season, lost more players in January but have rallied since.
The way Andoni Iraola and his staff manage to consistently find replacements for footballers who exit for the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, PSG & Man City is nothing short of remarkable. Their structure, recruitment, ambition and efficiency put West Ham to shame – but perhaps that’s a conversation for another day.
Because as of right now, West Ham are in good shape and the return of Jean-Clair Todibo makes things interesting. For once, I can’t really second-guess Nuno on this one which will be reflected in the predicted team at the bottom of the page – but I wouldn’t rule out three at the back. If he sticks with a 4-2-3-1 then perhaps Soungoutou Magassa comes into the team.
Iraola is banned from the touchline for the game
Match Details: West Ham United v AFC Bournemouth
Premier League – London Stadium
Saturday 21 February 2026 – 5.30pm GMT
West Ham return to league action looking to build on a decent run of form and push on in the survival fight. Five wins in our last seven in all competitions has steadied things, and another three points here would see us draw level with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
Confidence is growing under Nuno Espírito Santo, helped by last weekend’s slightly unconvincing FA Cup victory over Burton Albion, which booked our place in the last 16 for the first time since 2022/23.
Bournemouth arrive ninth and flying again after a sticky mid-season spell, now unbeaten in six league matches with four wins in that run. They’ll fancy their chances – and with their pace in wide areas, you can see why. That said, Andoni Iraola is facing a touchline ban collected against Everton meaning he’ll sit this one out in the stands.
Team news-wise, Jean-Clair Todibo returns after suspension, while Freddie Potts starts a three-match ban. Pablo Felipe is a doubt after missing the last two games. For the visitors, Julio Soler, Marcus Tavernier, Ben Doak and Justin Kluivert are all sidelined.
Jean Clair Todibo is eligible to face Bournemouth
Gonzo’s Predicted West Ham XI (Back Three System)
CF Castellanos
LAM Summerville RAM Bowen
LWB Diouf RWB Wan-Bissaka
CM Soucek CM Fernandes
CB Todibo CB Disasi CB Mavropanos
GK HermansenPrediction
I think this one will be high energy, end-to-end and properly open. A win would be transformative for us in the table, but Bournemouth are sharp and ruthless on the counter.
Heart says three points. Head says…
West Ham 2–2 Bournemouth
Must continue to play 2 up front
That’s been the sole reason for our up turn in results
We need 4 points from next 3 games and I will be ok with a point against the cherries as I fancy us more at Fulham
I hope he plays two centre backs because if he plays all 3 and one picks up a knock then we have to rely on Killman which we know at the moment we can’t
Looks a good team pick. I would not like to see us reverting to one marooned up front though. Taty could do with some help keeping the Bournemouth side busy in their own half.
Summerville and Bowen need to be at it. Also the midfield need to be supporting our front line and not just our front singleton. It has been the essence of our good play of late.
The defence looks great and competent. They do not need to defend in our box and we can all move as a unit.
All out effort. Stay alert. It’s only for 100 minutes. Come on boys.
COYI
Bournemouth have ten points from the last four games, fourteen points from the last six, and fifteen points from the last eight. They’re on good form. Higher than us in all three form tables.
They’re twelfth in the away table though isn’t as hot.
It won’t be any pushover and I think I agree with Gonzo, score draw.