OPINION
Who would have thought that Saturday’s game against Newcastle United will have turned into a must-win fixture for West Ham United?
Everything was looking up going into October, with the Hammers going unbeaten since the opening day defeat against Manchester City, and finishing September with a convincing 2-0 victory over Manchester United.
It went from bad to worse from there, with the draw against Bournemouth being followed by defeats against both Crystal Palace and Everton.
The disappointing draw against Sheffield United was the icing on the cake, as things continue to look bleak in East London for Manuel Pellegrini.
Michael Owen has recently admitted that the Hammers really need a win to get their confidence back up, and has predicted that Pellegrini’s men will win 1-0 at the London Stadium.
“West Ham have led against both Crystal Palace and Sheffield United in their last couple of home games but have ended up with just a solitary point,” Owen wrote in his BetVictor predictions blog on Wednesday.
“The Irons badly need a win to get their season back on track and one goal might be enough to separate the teams on Saturday.”
With Newcastle struggling, surely West Ham fans will be expecting more than just winning the game by a single goal, as they could use this as an opportunity to take out their frustration in the final third.
The Magpies have yet to score more than one goal in a single game so far this season – the only team in the Premier League not to do so, and currently, have the second-worst attacking record in the division.
That being said, West Ham are surely set to dominate the fixture given their opposition’s struggles going forward, and they must not make the same mistake as they did last time out against Sheffield United.
After a disappointing month, West Ham fans will take a win however it comes, but they will surely be hoping for more than what Owen has predicted for the game against Newcastle.
