It has been a fantastic week for everyone associated with West Ham United as the Hammers moved three points clear at the summit of the Championship after a hard fought win over Nottingham Forest which coincided with a few of their promotion rivals, including Southampton, losing.
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It was always going to be tricky for the ‘Premier League’ players in the Irons ranks to adapt to the style and physicality of the Championship and it is fair to say they have not been great in the first half of the season. However, how optimistic does that make you feel that West Ham have not hit anywhere near their best so far in this campaign but yet sit three points clear at the top of the hardest league in Europe to get out of?
The Hammers home form has been the main cause for concern as the pressure of playing for the demanding Upton Park crowd and the tactics of the opposition have made it tough for Big Sam’s boys to break down and demolish the away side. Teams such as Bristol City and Burnley have arrived at the Boleyn ground and parked the bus in front of their goal; walking away delighted with a draw or stealing a win after frustrating the hosts.
But I feel things are slowly going to change in the fortunes of the Hammers home form as every club in the division can no longer settle for defending for 90 minutes and nicking a 0-0. Each club in the division; no matter what league position they are in; will now be looking at a target position in the table and will now need to come to places like West Ham, Southampton and Cardiff and get a result to enhance their chances.
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The teams in and around the bottom three will need to desperately get something from every game from now on to prevent joining Millwall and falling down to the tough League One and can’t afford to sit and allow teams like the Hammers to attack them for 90 minutes. Teams who are hovering around the mid table section of the Championship will refuse to rule out catching the play-off places and there is always a late runner that seems to sneak into that sixth spot, which gives you the chance to create history and play in the best league in the world. Likewise, the teams in and around the play-offs will not be coming to Upton Park to take a draw as they will need every point possible to either catch the Hammers or cement their place in the play-offs come May.
All of these factors will result in teams attacking Big Sam’s side from the off in games and leave their usually six man defence weakened which will allow the likes of Sam Baldock, Kevin Nolan and Matty Taylor the time and space to provide the quality that we have failed to see a lot of in East London this season. If and when a new striker comes through the door this month, pace should be a main attribute of him as well as goal scoring as in the next few months I am sure West Ham will get plenty of chances in front of goal and will improve their mediocre home form to ensure promotion.
Do you agree? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
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this reads really well, i hope this is true, great artical, well done
You’re bubble will burst soon and southampton will be top again.
Think we all know that if Southampton had the injury problems we’ve had they would be about 5th or 6th. Having said I hope they come up with us as they do play good football and produce excellent talent like ourselves.
Really? I don’t think we’ve done the “hard work”…we’ve beaten the teams in the bottom half but not taken enough points against teams in the top. As we have played more games against the bottom half I’d say it’s the run of games with Southampton, Cardiff and Blackpool that should worry us more.
Personally I’m more woried about Cardiff than the Saints.