On Sky
West Ham United face a difficult away trip this Sunday when they travel to the south coast to take on Southampton. The Hammers will want to get a result to ease the pain of losing, at home, to Stoke, last time out, however Southampton under the Argentine , Mauricio Pochettino, are a vastly improved side to the one that got promotion, from the Championship, the same season as us.
Vital Quotes:
After losing last time out, to Stoke, Jack Collison sums things up perfectly with the following quote:-
“We`re coming into the game off the back of a disappointing result against Stoke and we`ll be looking to put things right.”
Southampton Team News:
Unlike Sam Allardyce, Mauricio Pochettino has no injury concerns.
Player to watch: Ricky Lambert
Now a veteran England international with three caps to his name, Lambert continues to defy the critics who inferred he wasn`t top-flight material.
West Ham United Team News:
Sam Allardyce takes his squad south still reeling from the news that his record signing, Andy Carroll, will be side-lined until the New Year. Having brought Mladen Petric to the club, the Croatian, as we understand, isn`t fit enough to be considered for selection yet.
Also joining Carroll on the side-lines are Joe Cole, Stewart Downing and George McCartney.
Player to watch: Kevin Nolan
West Ham will need all his know how to get something from this fixture, even more so with the squad stretched by injury.
Match Facts & Stats
Taking a look at the statistics, there have been 97 previous meetings between the two sides with West Ham having won 37, Southampton 32 and 28 having ended all square.
Sam Allardyce, in 9 Premier League meetings with Southampton, has yet to taste defeat with 6 wins and 3 draws from those nine fixtures.
Last season West Ham drew 1-1 at St Marys` and registered a very healthy 4-1 win over them at Upton Park.
Ref Watch:
Our officials for this Premier League fixture are:-
Referee – A. Mariner
Assistant – S. Ledger
Assistant – M. Perry
Fourth Official – M. Oliver
Match Prediction:
St Marys is a hard place to go and pick up a result and with The Hammers having a poor away record, I`d be telling a lie if I thought winning was an option. Of course fortune might smile on West Ham but I`m taking this one to be a draw, 1-1 for me!
Next Fixtures:
Next weekend, our Premier League campaign resumes when we entertain Everton, at Upton Park.
