Paul Merson predicts West Ham United vs Newcastle United result
Paul Merson has predicted West Ham to hold high-flying Newcastle to a draw when the two teams meet at St James’ Park this weekend.
The Magpies and the Hammers are operating at opposite ends of the Premier League table this season but have been tipped to cancel each other out on Saturday (4 February), with Bruno Guimaraes having been sent off playing in the Carabao Cup in midweek meaning he will miss this game.
That is a major blow to Eddie Howe’s men in Merson’s eyes, and he believes that despite the Irons’ current lowly status in the top flight they always pose a threat, so has predicted the Magpies to be cautious in this one and the game to end goalless.
In his Sportskeeda predictions column he said: “Newcastle are flying along, but I think this will be a hard game for them. Bruno Guimaraes can’t play this match, and he’s going to be a massive miss. Newcastle were playing mind-blowing football against Southampton in the first 30 minutes, but they were just hanging on in the end.
“Defensively, Newcastle are very good. West Ham haven’t been great in the Premier League, but they’re always a danger and don’t get blown away. This is a difficult game for both teams, and I’m going with a draw.”
Steel
David Moyes could do with more than just a point, but with tough games on the schedule this month it would still show signs of improvement to add draws rather than defeats to the record.
It is vital to put something on the board with the club still within touching distance of the relegation zone past the halfway point in the season.
But with injuries to Gianluca Scamacca and Danny Ings in attack, it is difficult to see a sudden explosion of goals against a defence that has conceded by far the fewest in the league – 11.
Michail Antonio was up for leaving in January and had interest from plenty of directions but has remained at the club in light of the crisis at his position, and it could fall to him to be the difference.
Jarrod Bowen reprising his two-goal performance against struggling Everton in the previous league match would be a huge boost, but the calibre of opposition is very different.
However, if the Hammers can capitalise on the absence of the suspended Guimaraes in the midfield then perhaps they can disrupt Newcastle’s usual flow and spring a much-needed surprise.