Michael Owen has predicted that West Ham will draw against Southampton in Saturday’s late kick-off.
The Hammers go into the game with just one win in their last 10 league matches, with pressure mounting on manager Manuel Pellegrini.
And while Owen doesn’t see them ending that run, he also doesn’t foresee them losing either.
Speaking to Bet Victor, he said: “West Ham have won just one of their last ten league games and they visit a Southampton side who have won their last couple at St Mary’s against fellow strugglers Watford and Norwich.
“Manuel Pellegrini’s side dominated the first half against Arsenal earlier in the week, but they were easily brushed aside in the second 45 minutes and they badly need a positive result at St Mary’s.
“I expect the game to finish in a low-scoring draw.”
OPINION
Manuel Pellegrini is surely hanging by a thread at this point. As reported by reliable club source ExWHUemployee, there is a general consensus that the Chilean could have just one game to save his skin in east London, and on that basis you’ve got to ask yourself whether or not a draw away from home against Southampton would be enough to do that. Most supporters would surely say not, and given the ambitions the club had at the start of the season, it would be an embarrassing climb-down were the board to just trundle on accepting this kind of mediocrity. As such, the only satisfying outcome would be a convincing West Ham win. Even then, some would be calling for Pellegrini’s head, but at the very least it would show that he has what it takes to turn things around. Whether or not his side have that kind of performance in them, however, is another kettle of fish entirely.