Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has delivered his prediction for West Ham United’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday after being left tearing his hair out with their FA Cup defeat.
The former Arsenal man believes that the Hammers’ 4-2 cup loss to AFC Wimbledon was a ‘shocking result’, and feels that Wolves will further their misery with a 2-1 win.
“West Ham are doing well in the league so that’s what was so frustrating about their defeat in the FA Cup to AFC Wimbledon,” he wrote on the Sky Sports website.
“Fair play to Wimbledon but letting in four goals at Wimbledon just shouldn’t happen. It was a shocking result for Manuel Pellegrini’s side and I think they are going to struggle at Wolves.”
OPINION
First and foremost, Merson is right, it was a terrible result on Saturday for West Ham. Manuel Pellegrini’s side are one of those Premier League teams in the seventh to 12th range in the table where you’d think the FA Cup would be a huge priority for them given that their top flight status is essentially secured for another year. So to see them bow out in such meek fashion to a League One side was extremely disappointing. To come back and go to Wolves is a tough task, as well. Nuno Espirito Santo’s are well drilled, and are battling West Ham, amongst others, for the tag of ‘best of the rest’ in the Premier League this season. Wolves have demonstrated this season that they are probably a slightly more consistent side than West Ham, while the Hammers’ defenders are going to struggle to contain players like Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota. Merson is correct, it could be a long night for the visitors.
