By Mark Smith

31st Dec, 2019 | 3:00pm

'Got to be realistic' - Mark Lawrenson predicts winner in West Ham clash v Bournemouth

David Moyes will welcome Bournemouth to East London on Wednesday as he starts his second reign in charge of West Ham United.

The 2-2 draw against Eddie Howe’s men saw West Ham continue their unbeaten run in September – keeping them in touch with the top four. Fast forward three months and they are now sitting just above the relegation zone.

Manuel Pellegrini was finally given the boot by the Hammers board, and that will definitely be quickly forgotten about should the Irons pick up all three points against the Cherries.

Mark Lawrenson has recently backed Moyes to start with a bang and pick up a 2-0 victory when they entertain the Cherries on Wednesday.

“The return of David Moyes is just what West Ham need,” Lawrenson wrote in his BBC prediction column. He’ll get them organised and difficult to beat. All this ‘the fans aren’t happy he’s coming back’… the fans have got to be realistic,” he added.

“He’s been appointed to make sure they stay up. His record is very good and if you look at how many times he has been a manager in the Premier League, he knows all about it and how it works.

“I know Bournemouth have been hit by injuries but they look flat. I think West Ham will get a bounce because of the new manager.”

Moyes will have a number of big calls to make, with one of those being what to do with Michail Antonio. The forward crashed his car on Christmas, and many would take the easy way out and drop him for at least one game to take him out of the spotlight.

Antonio, though, has been one of West Ham’s best players recently. The forward has returned from injury and given the Londoners much needed pace and drive in the final third.

Either way, all that counts is three points and Moyes will know that survival is the main goal this season – something the win would help.

In other West Ham news, ‘All for it’ – Darren Bent urges West Ham to ditch ‘inconsistent’ first-teamer