Mark Lawrenson gives West Ham FA Cup prediction
West Ham United make the trip to the Solent on Wednesday as they take on Southampton in the fifth round of the FA Cup at St. Mary’s.
The Hammers are coming off the back of a slender 1-0 win against Wolves in a game which neither side played particularly well while the Saints have had an extra two days of rest after beating Norwich City on Friday night.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are one of the most inform in the entire country despite playing some of the big six in recent weeks which will make things very tough for David Moyes’ Irons.
Mark Lawrenson has made his FA Cup predictions ahead of the midweek games and believes that the Hammers might have found the end of the road for this year’s competition.
“It’s brilliant for West Ham that they are still fighting on three fronts at the start of March – the FA Cup, Europa League and the race for Champions League qualification – but I just feel something has to give,” Lawrenson said to BBC Sport.
“The Hammers only just squeaked past Kidderminster in round four and, with a trip to Liverpool to come this weekend, I just wonder if Hammers boss David Moyes might gamble a bit and leave one or two players out.
“With the way it is going for them in other competitions, losing this tie wouldn’t be the end of the world – for starters they are right in the mix for fourth place. Prediction: 1-0”
Ignore the league
It’s a crazy thing to say but you’ve got to understand why it might be the best thing the Hammers could do.
West Ham are not going to win the Premier League this season but they do have a real chance to win both the FA Cup and the Europa League.
They might sacrifice their top-four hopes by doing so but if they focus on the cups, they could give their supporters some of the most incredible moments that they will remember for the rest of their lives.
No one will remember the team that finished the Premier League in fourth, but they will remember the side who lifted the FA Cup and the Europa League in the same campaign.
If they do go on to lift the continental trophy, they’ll qualify for the Champions League anyway and given the form of Arsenal and the power of Manchester United, it might be their best route in.
It is completely counter-intuitive to what teams usually do but it might be the making of this Irons squad.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers could demand a whopping £75million to sell Jarrod Bowen this summer.
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