Chris Sutton predicts outcome of West Ham United clash v Nottingham Forest
Chris Sutton believes things will end in an even 1-1 draw between West Ham United and Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium on 25 February.
Sutton confessed that if the Hammers fail to beat Forest on Saturday he fears that things will turn “ugly” for David Moyes at West Ham United.
Speaking in his column for BBC Sport, Sutton shared that Moyes has become a victim of his own success at West Ham United, following finishing 7th in the league last season.
“West Ham manager David Moyes has been given the full support of the club’s board this week, but his future still looks far from secure,” said Sutton as quoted by BBC Sport. (23 February)
“I am a fan of Moyes and it’s great to see managers get that kind of backing and be given more time, but ultimately it is fan power which will decide whether he stays or not and this has become a must-win game for him.
“If West Ham don’t beat Nottingham Forest on Saturday then I fear things will turn ugly at London Stadium and the home crowd will be calling for Moyes to go.
“Moyes is partly a victim of raising expectations by finishing seventh last season, and I hope he does win this game because he deserves to keep his job, but his side are definitely underachieving this time around despite some expensive signings last summer.
“West Ham might, though. We looked at them on this week’s Monday Night Club on BBC Radio 5 Live and none of their attackers are hitting the same numbers, goal-wise, as they did last season. The whole team are not as dangerous from set-pieces, either.
“If things are going to change on Saturday a lot will depend on Danny Ings, who will be fit to start against Forest, but it’s still hard to make a case for the Hammers to get the win Moyes needs, and I don’t know whether a draw will be enough for him.”
Tense times.
It’s tense times at the London Stadium right now and Sutton isn’t wrong in his ugly prediction if the club fail to beat Forest on Saturday afternoon.
It would almost certainly bring an end to Moyes’ time at the club and rightly so, this team should and must be beating the likes of the Premier League new boys.
Especially after the investment in the club this summer, it’s bizarre that the Hammers are even in the relegation zone right now.
Injuries haven’t helped matters this season but it’s no excuse for the continued poor form that has wreaked havoc on this Premier League campaign.
Something needs to change at the London Stadium and it might well be that getting rid of Moyes is the decision to take to move the club in a better direction.
No one is denying the terrific job he has done in East London, however, all good things must come to an end right? That seems quite fitting in this one.