England Premier League
Saturday 8th April 2023
Kick off at 3pm BST
Venue: Craven Cottage
Match Preview:
This London derby may well have seen West Ham in front of Fulham in the league in most seasons but that isn’t the case for this season and Fulham are 12 points ahead of the Hammers. The Cottagers have slipped in recent weeks though but their status in the league is almost assured with 39 points already. However they have lost their last 3 games and will need to use this game to get back to winning ways. Those defeats came against Brentford, Arsenal and Bournemouth and apart from the Arsenal defeat the other losses would have been a disappointment to the club who have had such a solid season up until now.
It hasn’t helped that forward Aleksandar Mitrovic has been banned for 8 games for pushing a referee and the FA have appealed to make the ban longer so he misses the rest of the season. There has certainly been a fall out from that story and Fulham have lost focus of late. Home form, which was decent up until last month has taken a hit too and it’s just 1 win from their past four, their last result here was being totally outplayed by Arsenal and losing 3-0.
Attention has turned to David Moyes after West Ham were thrashed 5-1 at home to Newcastle in midweek. Moyes has been under pressure for some time to keep his job and in a league that has seen 60% of its managers lose their job perhaps it is a surprise that Moyes hasn’t been sacked. At the same time in Europe the Hammers are unbeaten and have reached the quarter finals of the Europa Conference League and for a team who haven’t won a trophy in 43 years it would be huge for them to pick up silverware and currently the club are the favourites to do so. However in the league the Hammers have suffered and come into this game in 15th place but only goal difference means they are not in the relegation zone. Current form is a mixed bag for West Ham but it’s only 1 win in their last four, on the road is where the misery has lived for them though with just one win so far and 6 points won from a possible 39 and it’s also just seven goals scored.
Team News:
Fulham: Aleksandar Mitrovic is suspended for 8 games and is not due back for five weeks. Layvin Kurzawa is still out with his knee but could return next week. Neeskens Kebano is out with his Achilles with no fixed return date.
West Ham: Gianluca Scamacca is the only injury worry for the Hammers and he will miss out again but could return in two weeks from a knee injury.
Fulham vs West Ham Head to Head:
The last time the clubs played here was in 2021 and the game finished 0-0.
Earlier in the season in the reverse fixture West Ham won 3-1.
West Ham have remained unbeaten in the last 5 meetings with four wins and one draw.
Fulham have not beaten West Ham for 9 years.
Fulham vs West Ham Prediction:
All of the pressure is on West Ham and despite them having a good recent record over Fulham this looks like being a difficult game for a side who have an appalling record on the road. However one can argue that they may be playing Fulham at the right time with the Cottagers losing their form and we all know that this West Ham side does possess quality and they have been underwhelming for most of the season and certainly has a team that should be fighting for a European place next season. Usually when Moyes job has been called into question his team have come out fighting and got the win and despite their away form we will be backing the Hammers to get maximum points at good value, which enables us to cover the draw on the refund.
It really depends which West Ham side turn up but Fulham look like a side who is lost at sea currently and the Hammers need to take advantage of that and they need to boss this game after all they are the ones under pressure to remain in the Premier League.
Fulham vs West Ham Betting Tips:
Draw no bet (West Ham) at 1.84
Correct Score: 1-0 or 2-0 to West Ham at 8.00 and 12.00
Anytime goalscorer: Michail Antonio at 3.00
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