West Ham vs Newcastle: Preview & Prediction

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Match Preview:

With 13 games to go West Ham are in with a chance to finish in 4th place and ask any Hammers fan if they would have taken that at the beginning of the season and it would have been an emphatic yes. In fact for the second season in a row David Moyes has done an impressive job at the London club who have throughout the Premier League era struggled. But the Hammers have really pushed on and now have goals to meet.

Unfortunately West Ham lost 4th place in midweek without even playing a game as Manchester United had their rearranged fixture with Brighton to play and won that match 2-0. The Red Devils have moved into 4th place and nudged the Hammers down to 5th. The teams have now played the same games but Manchester United have gone 2 points clear. The pressure to finish 4th is really on and not only do West Ham have Manchester United as a rival but there are another 3 clubs in hot pursuit in Arsenal, Tottenham and Wolves. All could realistically pass the Hammers as they all have games in hand. The solution for West Ham is simply to keep winning games. They have lost 2 of their past four but come into this match undefeated in their last two. The clubs last match finished in an entertaining 2-2 draw away to Leicester.

At home Moyes team have won 50% of their games and while that isn’t a terrible record it may not be good enough to qualify for the Champions League and they would be looking more to win between 55-60% of home games. Recent home losses to Leeds and Southampton have really taken the wind out of the sails but here is a club that keep fighting back and they have plenty of spirit which has been lacking in past West Ham sides. The clubs last home game finished in a 1-0 victory over Watford, and victory over Newcastle would see the Hammers take back 4th place until at least Sunday when Manchester United play Leeds away from home.

Newcastle have been one of the most in form sides in the league and have gone their past 5 games without defeat. They are in 17th place now and have pulled 4 points clear of the bottom three. Indeed Newcastle have a game in hand over 18th placed Norwich and have such a goal superiority that they are actually 5 points clear. The Magpies are well on their way to survival and have won their last 3 games with their last match finishing in a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa. Kieran Trippier with his trademark free kick was the difference in that game but sadly for Newcastle Trippier got injured in that fixture and could be out for a while.

With a win Newcastle could go past both Everton and Leeds depending on their results and go into 15th place. 

Team News: 

West Ham: Arthur Masuaku has a knee injury and could be out for an extended period. Kurt Zouma is ill and remains a doubt and will have to be assessed. Angelo Ogbonna is out long term with a knee injury.

Newcastle: Fernandez is not due back until the end of the month with his thigh injury but he is making progress. Kieran Trippier has a foot injury and is expected to be put out for at least a month, no time frame as of yet has been given though. Javier Manquillo has an ankle injury and is expected to miss out although he will be assessed ahead of the game. Jamaal Lascelles missed the last game through illness, he could return for this one. Callum Wilson is out until May with a calf injury.

West Ham vs Newcastle Head to Head:

Last season Newcastle won this fixture 2-0.

West Ham have only won one game against Newcastle from the last six played although it was their latest meeting when they beat the Magpies 4-2 in the earlier reverse fixture.

4 from the last five meetings has ended in over 3.5 goals.

West Ham vs Newcastle Prediction:

This will be an incredibly interesting game and despite the difference in positions it should be a close one. This is a fixture that usually produces plenty of goals and both teams to score looks nailed on here. Can Eddie Howe’s side make it six games without defeat? We’re not too sure, the Hammers will be strong at home and what has been clearly evident is that Moyes side raise themselves against the bigger teams. Bigger teams such as 17th place Newcastle you may be thinking? But that’s the situation because Newcastle are a club who have a bigger budget than the Hammers and if all goes to plan will be more successful in the coming years than the team they currently face, so the Hammers will feel they have to raise their game.

The Hammers are a little low for us in 1.66 to win the game but they have the team to win this fixture and we will be backing the home side to do so. We will also back man of the moment Jarrod Bowen to score for the home side, he has been in good form this season and has contributed to 16 goals all round.

West Ham vs Newcastle Betting Tips:

West Ham to beat Newcastle at 1.66

Both teams to score at 1.72

Anytime goalscorer: Jarrod Bowen at 2.70