Mark Lawrenson predicts outcome of West Ham United clash v Southampton
West Ham are on a roll here and Mark Lawrenson has predicted the Hammers to win when they travel to St Mary’s to face Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday (16 October).
The Saints have lost four games in a row, and five in their last six, and Lawrenson suggests that Ralph Hasenhüttl has to defend himself after every game, which is not a healthy sign.
The Hammers, on the other hand, have picked up two back-to-back home wins, and they must now aim to get an away victory as well.
“You get the feeling that somebody at Southampton is waiting to press the button and it’s not the manager. He’s having to defend himself after every game which is never good. West Ham won last time out and looked a lot like their old selves. Southampton 1-2 West Ham,” said Lawrenson to Paddy Power.
Momentum
After a poor start to the season, it seems the Hammers are truly on a roll at the moment.
They have picked up four wins in a row after the international break in six from their last seven in all competitions.
David Moyes’s side are heading into this game on the back of a 2-1 win over Anderlecht in the Europa Conference League.
However, Moyes will be sweating on the fitness of some of his players for this game. Michail Antonio picked up a knock against Fulham, while Angelo Ogbonna picked up a hamstring injury.
Moyes will be very pleased with the form of Jarrod Bowen and Gianluca Scamacca, both are now back among goals.
Bowen was dropped by Gareth Southgate, but if he continues to score goals regularly, the England manager will have something to think about.
This game should also test whether the Hammers are the real deal for a challenge for the top four. They need to find a way to pick up wins away from home, and this game presents a good opportunity to do so.