Chris Sutton makes Jarrod Bowen prediction for West Ham v Brentford
West Ham supporters aren’t entirely sold on Graham Potter at the London Stadium yet.
Results have been mixed since his arrival and he will know there is plenty of work to be done as he looks to create a long-term project with the Hammers.
The Irons do sit 10 points above the Premier League relegation zone and with the sides below them struggling, it should be enough to save them from that battle.
Chris Sutton hits back at boring West Ham prediction
Last time out, West Ham fell to a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea despite putting in a good performance against the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
However, with no game last weekend due to already being knocked out of the FA Cup, the Hammers have had time to recover from the loss.
Their attention will have now turned to their Premier League showdown against Brentford on Saturday (15 February) as they prepare to welcome their fellow Londoners.
Chris Sutton believes the poor away form of the Bees could play right into the hands of West Ham, hitting back at a boring prediction elsewhere.
Writing for BBC Sport (13 February), he said: “Brentford are not great away from home, while West Ham need to get something after taking only one point from their past three matches.
“This has got a draw written all over it, really, but I am not going to take the easy option and go for 1-1 here like my guest has done. That would be boring.
“Although Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are always so dangerous for the Bees, I am going to go with West Ham to win it.
“New Hammers boss Graham Potter has taken over a difficult situation and he is finding it hard to get results – he has only won one of his five games in charge so far.
“Their struggles are not on him though, and it would definitely boost their chances if he has Jarrod Bowen back from injury soon – he has been training this week.
“Bowen scored a hat-trick when West Ham beat Brentford 4-2 in February last year. There won’t be as many goals this time, but I am going for the same outcome. Prediction: 2-1.”
Graham Potter has injury boost for West Ham
As Sutton says, it has not been easy for Potter since he arrived in East London.
With Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug all sidelined through injury, the boss knew he needed reinforcements in the winter transfer window.
However, after the money spent by Julen Lopetegui in the summer window, the boss had limited resources which made movements tricky.
Nevertheless, Evan Ferguson was brought into the London Stadium and Potter will be hoping he can make his debut against Brentford and show exactly what he can do.
Furthermore, Potter will feel as though he has further new additions with several players set to return from the sidelines too.
On top of this, Bowen made a speedy recovery and scored in the game against Chelsea proving that he would take no time at all to settle back into playing.
As Sutton points out, he is one man who can certainly make a difference for the Irons in the remainder of the campaign and if he makes another cameo against the Bees, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a contribution from the attacker.
The boss won’t want to pile too much on Bowen in the worry of injuring him any further but he has continued to show his importance in a Hammers shirt which will be a massive boost for Potter as he looks to get another West Ham win under his belt.