West Ham manager Slaven Bilic will be desperate to atone for the 5-0 defeat in the FA Cup earlier this month.
West Ham United welcome Manchester City to the Olympic Stadium in the Premier League on Wednesday evening, desperate for a response after being humiliated 5-0 in the FA Cup third round to Pep Guardiola’s side earlier in January.
But with the Hammers enjoying a much-improved run of form on home soil, while Manchester City have been losing on the road, could next week’s meeting yield a different outcome?
West Ham United finally finding some form
After a slow start to the season, West Ham are finally looking like a side capable of finishing in the top-half of the Premier League. Currently 10th in the division with 28 points from 22 games, the Londoners are coming off the back of four wins from their last six, and have been much-improved in their own backyard too.
Slaven Bilic’s men have won three of their last four games at the Olympic Stadium, beating Burnley, Hull City and Crystal Palace without conceding a single goal. Manchester United and Arsenal are the only sides to have beaten West Ham at home since September to Manchester City won’t have it all their own way.
Manchester City struggling on the road
And while being favourites with the bookmakers, City are looking somewhat vulnerable as the travelling side in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s men have lost three of their last four away games, suffering defeat to Leicester City, Liverpool and Everton on the road. They’ve gone down to back-to-back losses on their travels in the league without scoring so West Ham might fancy their chances of getting something.
City have picked up just one away win since November in the league and such poor form has kept them adrift in the title race. Its perhaps worth noting they’ve beaten only one top-half team on the road since September but may take hope against the Hammers given they have beaten the Londoners twice this season already. Nevertheless, their defence will be given a fierce examination as Bilic’s men will have Andy Carroll as the target man to be an aerial threat and out-muscle defenders.
West Ham are expected to be direct, whipping balls into the box at every given opportunity, while defending for their lives at the other end. And with the hosts so consistent in front of their own fans while City continue to toil on their travels, West Ham United are 9/2 to win against Manchester City on Wednesday evening.
Can the Londoners get their revenge on the Sky Blues?
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