This weekend of Premier League action kicks off on Friday night with West Ham hosting Brighton & Hove Albion.
Team News
Brighton could be without centre back, Shane Duffy after he sat out training this week.
Long term absentees, Beram Kayal and Sam Baldock are close to returning. They are however going to feature for the U23s squad tomorrow against Middlesbrough U23s.
Form
West Ham are currently in good form with just one defeat in all competitions, since returning from September’s international break.
They have won two of their last three home league matches so will be tough to beat. One of those wins came against fellow top flight newcomers, Huddersfield Town.
Brighton are currently in decent home form but are yet to win on the road.
The Seagulls did come close last month against Bournemouth, also on a Friday night but manage to concede two after taking the lead.
Head to head, the Hammers have won three of their last five meetings in this fixture.
Home form against Brighton is also good, having won eight of their last ten home clashes and suffering one draw and loss respectively.
That is also where their last meeting came in April 2012, when the Hammers ran riot in a 6-0 victory at Upton Park.
Tight duel
Judging by the home/away stats for both teams when it comes to scoring, most of the action should come after half time.
These graphics from Footstats.co.uk are quite worrying because both teams need to be able to score in the opening 45 minutes, if want to avoid a relegation scrap.
When it comes to opposition scoring, a third of goals by the Hammers’ visitors have been scored in the first half.
Those hosting Brighton have done the opposite and a third of the Seagulls’ conceded away goals have come after half time.
West Ham have scored an average 1.67 goals at home whilst the Seagulls’ away goal average is dreadful at just 0.25.
Prediction
Both teams are yet to score a goal in the first half home/away respectively meaning that this should be a tight result.
The fact that both teams have conceded a third of their leaked goals in opposite halves cancelling each other out.
Personally, this game doesn’t scream goals to me so can see a point apiece here.
Prediction: West Ham 0-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Jake predicts: West Ham 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Result: West Ham 0-3 Brighton & Hove Albion
Predictions War
Here at Sport Grill, me and Jake Self are going head to head predicting games. Here is how things stand after the previous round of games along with the rules.
Correct score – 3 points
Correct result – 1 point
Incorrect result – 0 points
| Name | Points |
| James Gregory | 45 |
| Jake Self | 46 |
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