MY ACCOUNT
– West Ham are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches at home
– Newcastle have won their last three games
– Recommended bet – Draw
Newcastle may currently lie third in the Premier League table but this will be a tricky examination of their top-four credentials as they prepare to make the trip down south to face a West Ham team who are tough to beat at home.
It was a wonderful day for the Toon on Sunday when they beat Manchester United 2-0 at St James’ Park thanks to goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson.
It was their third win in a row, following on from five without a win, and was more evidence of the real quality Eddie Howe has at his disposal in charge of the Magpies.
West Ham will also be buoyed by their crucial 1-0 win at home to Southampton on Sunday, which lifted them out of the bottom three and up to 14th.
Moyes’ side are undoubtedly finally improving, but Newcastle will be a big test of their credentials to steer clear of trouble in what is left of the season.
Team news
West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski returned to action following injury at the weekend and kept a clean sheet against Southampton, meaning the Pole is likely to keep his place.
The Hammers’ injury problems have cleared up of late and Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca is currently the only doubt due to a knee issue.
That means Danny Ings is set to continue up front, supported out wide by Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma.
Newcastle are set to be without Miguel Almiron once more with Jacob Murphy expected to deputise out wide again.
Howe is likely to stick with the same midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff, and Willock, meaning Joelinton will have to be content with a place on the bench.
The stats
West Ham’s home form has prevented them from being cast adrift at the bottom of the table.
They have lost only five of their 14 games at the London Stadium, with most of them coming in the early stages of the season.
Newcastle have won three games on the spin coming into this clash, responding excellently to the disappointing Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester United on February.
After 27 games, There are 23 points separating the third-placed Magpies and 14th-placed Hammers with Newcastle now on 50 and West Ham on 27.
The Magpies have a good recent record against West Ham, losing only one of their previous seven meetings.
Prediction
This is a genuinely tough game to call. Even though there is a big disparity in league placings, West Ham is a tough place to visit.
Each of the last two league meetings between them have ended all square and both sides would likely regard a point as a good result in their relative quests for the season.
West Ham have their weaknesses, particularly when it comes to being clinical — they have scored more than one goal in only six Premier League matches this season.
Newcastle have lost only three times this season and are chasing a Champions League place so will be after something from the game with a draw looking the likeliest outcome.
Back a draw at 5/2 with LiveScore Bet.
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