Chris Sutton predicts Fulham vs West Ham United outcome in ‘tricky’ verdict
Chris Sutton believes West Ham will draw 1-1 to Fulham in a “tricky” Premier League match-up this weekend.
In the BBC Sport column (13 September), Sutton said that he “can’t call” the winner of the match at Craven Cottage, as domestic football begins once more after the international break.
The Hammers will be looking to bounce back from defeat to Man City after already toppling a London club in Crystal Palace this season.
Sutton said: “This is tricky. These kind of games are the reason I have been losing every week, because I really can’t call them.
“Fulham are bright and try to play good football, and West Ham are the same. The Hammers actually ran Manchester City pretty close before the international break, but still ended up losing.
“There will be chances at both ends but I can’t pick a winner, so I am going to go with a draw – in fact the more I think about it, the more this game has got draw written all over it.”
Can West Ham deal with the loss of Niclas Fullkrug?
Niclas Fullkrug is the latest Hammers player to pick up an injury, damaging his Achilles on international duty with Germany.
Manager Julen Lopetegui is hopeful that the forward will be fit to play, with a decision imminent.
Although the 31-year-old is yet to score for his new club, largely because he has played second fiddle to Michail Antonio thus far, his record of 51 goals in the past three seasons shows he knows exactly where the back of the net is.
Antonio will probably continue to lead the line, especially given he scored for Jamaica over the international break, although Danny Ings represents another option as a central striker.
Jarrad Bowen will also be an option, and has shown he is capable of playing as a striker numerous times, which could open space for Crysencio Summerville to get an opportunity to start out wide.
Lopetegui has plenty of options to choose from but he will be desperate for a positive result to get the Hammers’ season moving.
In other West Ham news, Julen Lopetegui confirms West Ham’s stance on free agent defender.
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