West Ham will play host to Sunderland in the late kick-off this Saturday in Dick Advocaat’s first game in charge. Having sacked Gus Poyet earlier this week, Sunderland were linked with Hammers’ manager Sam Allardyce before appointing former Netherlands manager Dick Advocaat on Tuesday. West Ham go into the game having not won a league game since January 18th and, after losing the last three, this is a massive chance to get back to winning ways. Sunderland sit precariously in 17th place; 1 point off the drop zone with 1 win in the last 10.
The reverse fixture ended in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland; Jordi Gomez’s penalty was cancelled out by Stewart Downing and we then failed to make our dominance count as the points were shared.
Sunderland will still be without Adam Johnson, pending a police investigation over allegations of underage sex offences. The visitors will probably also be without other creative midfielders Emanuele Giaccherini and Will Buckley with Ricky Alvarez doubtful too. Lee Cattermole will miss out through suspension and Steven Fletcher’s thigh injury will be assessed before the clash. West Ham welcome back Carlton Cole and Adrian will also be fit to start having recovered from a dislocated finger sustained before the Arsenal game.
However, Winston Reid and James Tomkins are both unavailable through injury alongside centre back Doneil Henry, who was injured in his loan spell at Blackburn. James Collins and Cheikhou Kouyate are expected to continue at the back with Carl Jenkinson returning to the starting line-up having missed out against parent club Arsenal last weekend due to restrictions on his loan. West Ham will also be without Enner Valencia after he lacerated his toe in a freak accident at his home and Andy Carroll is still out too.
A West Ham win could potentially see us rise to 8th but we are guaranteed a place in the top 10 after this weekend’s games. Sunderland, desperate for the points, could go up to 15th but if Burnley better their result away at Southampton, they would fall into the relegation zone.
