Wolverhampton Wanderers Match Preview
West Ham United haven’t played a Premier League game in front of their own fans since the 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on 31 August. They are still on the lookout for their first win in Stratford and face another crucial game when Wolverhampton Wanderers visit this afternoon after losing 1-0 at Everton before the international break.
Prior to facing the Toffees, Frank Lampard’s side were one place above the Hammers in the table and that is exactly where Bruno Lage’s side find themselves going into this encounter.
Whilst the Irons will be desperate for a home win, the travelling support are yet to see their team collect three points on the road, with their solitary triumph coming against Southampton on 3 September and with that in mind, this could be a cagey affair.
The two teams may have an extra incentive to try and grab maximum points though, as the match is a 5:30pm kick-off so both sets of players will know what they have to do, depending on the results of the earlier encounters.
With their third UEFA Europa Conference League group game against RSC Anderlecht ahead of them on Thursday night, if the hosts can get a victory and exit the relegation zone here, then it will be a good start to the week.
One other piece of news that will boost confidence amongst the Irons’ players is that former club Captain Mark Noble will be returning to East London to take up a technical director’s position in January.
Both teams go into the game having lost their last encounters before the international break. Lage’s men suffered a 3-0 home defeat to reigning Champions Manchester City one day before the Hammers were on the wrong end of things at Goodison Park.
Ben Johnson is back in full training ahead of this game and could replace Vladimír Coufal or Emmerson Palmieri, while Lucas Paquetá looks set for his full league debut in front of the home crowd.
Live coverage will be screened by Sky Sports from 5pm and the referee is Paul Tierney.