After a diabolical second half showing led to an embarrassing 4-2 loss against Watford last week, an improved performance is needed from West Ham this weekend. Changes are needed at the back, and possibly in goal too. I can’t remember a team which had such a difference in the quality of their attack and defence than West Ham did last Saturday.
West Brom haven’t had a great start to the season either, taking four points from their opening four games. Although they haven’t had to face Chelsea and Manchester City away already this season like the Hammers have.
Despite winning away to Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season, the Baggies have fallen away since, losing to Everton at home, drawing with newly-promoted Middlesbrough and losing to Bournemouth last weekend. However, they will likely fancy their chances at home against a West Ham team which appears to be in disarray.
The difference in quality between the two teams is stark, and West Ham should have no issue in dispatching West Brom, but with Tony Pulis as their manager, the Brummies can pull the unexpected out of the bag. West Ham have recently seemed incapable of breaking teams down who put 10 men behind the ball – a famous Pulis tactic – and this is what happened when West Brom came to Upton Park last season. With that in mind, here is a look at the last five fixtures between the two teams.
