West Ham United vs Brentford
As 2022 draws to a close, six points separates these Premier League clubs.
What may surprise many is that it is West Ham, perennial European challengers in recent seasons, who trail Brentford as the Bees make waves in only their second top flight season for three quarters of a century.
So, it’s fair to say that all the pressure is on the hosts on Friday night.
Talking Points
A fourth straight league defeat on Boxing Day at leaders Arsenal has left West Ham as one of the cluster of teams packed tightly together in the bottom half.
Yes, they arebetter than their league position suggests, but a failure to convert chances (13 goals in 16 league matches) is proving costly and is something they need to put right quickly.
Ahead of this one, the home side have four injury concerns with Gianluca Scamacca (ankle), Nayef Aguerd (virus and groin), Maxwel Cornet (calf) and Kurt Zouma (knee) all missing that game.
Of that quartet, Scamacca is the most likely to be available on Friday which would naturally help boost West Ham’s attacking options.
Before the Arsenal match, manager David Moyes said he was not feeling pressure because of results, instead urging for perspective and togetherness across the club.
So he could have done without the comments of former striker Gabby Agbonlahor who has warned Moyes must get his side talking on the pitch rather than off it.
His point that West Ham fans will soon turn on the Scot if his side’s performances do not match his optimism seems accurate, especially as they are the most out of form team in the division at present.
Moyes remains confident fortunes will turn around, and they need to with his side sitting 16th and just a point clear of the Premier League’s relegation zone after losing ten of their opening 16 league matches this term.
Brentford, who continue to punch above their weight with a much smaller squad, have injury troubles of their own.
Yet they showed their mettle once again on Boxing Day when they held Spurs, Vitaly Janelt and Ivan Toney putting them in front before they were pegged back.
As they go in search of more Premier League highlights, they could be without as many as five first-team players with midfielder Frank Onyeka (thigh), centre-back Kritsoffer Ajer (knee), full-back Aaron Hickey (ankle), midfielder Shandon Baptiste (groin) and goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha (ankle) all missing through injury.
As it stands though, they still have Ivan Toney, fresh from being named the club’s Footballer of the Year for 2022.
He has 11 league goals to his name so far, although he may not get the chance to claim many more.
That is because Toney has been charged with breaches of betting rules, alleged to have taken place between March 2017 and February 2019.
Toney has until January 4 to respond to the charges but, should he be found guilty, the club will need a new frontman to continue Brentford’s fine season.
For now though, he will be the main man West Ham have to watch.
History
Considering Brentford had not been in the top flight of English football for more than 70 years until last year, the overall record between the two clubs is fairly close.
West Ham have 22 successes to their name in this fixture, while the Bees have enjoyed 17 victories and there have been 11 draws.
Brentford did the double over the Hammers last term in their first ever top flight clashes.
A last minute winner from Yoane Wissa sealed a 2-1 success at the London Stadium, this after Jarrod Bowen had cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo’s opener – that was Brentford’s first win at West Ham United since October 1953 in League Division Two when Jimmy Bloomfield scored the only goal of the game at Upton Park.
It was also the first match between them since 1993.
Brentford also ran out 2-0 winners in April when Mbeumo and Ivan Toney netted two second half goals.
The very first meeting came in 1898 in the former Southern League Second Division.
West Ham were the winners by 3-1 and the reported attendance was 1,200.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds tip the hosts to bounce back and so do I.
Options on West Ham include 1X2 @ 2.01 and Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.07 which is my *** prediction.
Brentford are priced 1X2 @ 3.65 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 1.92.
The draw is available @ 3.35.
I expect a few goals, although not too many, so it’s worth considering over 2.50 goals @ 2.02, total goal 0-1 @ 3.15, 2-3 @ 1.90 and 4-6 @ 3.75.
A re-run of the corresponding fixture last term will pay out @ 12.50 with Correct Score.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT))
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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