Seven points is all that separates as from the relegation zone but, with just three games left to play, we can all but assume that we’ll be playing Premier League football next season.
If other results go our way we could be mathematically safe by tonight, even if we lose to West Brom at The Hawthorns this afternoon.
But if you look at the stats surrounding this fixture and our recent history against the Baggies, it’s difficult to expect anything other than a draw. Five of the last six meetings have ended in a draw and West Brom have drawn six of their seven home games since Pepe Mel took the manager’s job.
And the way that we have been playing recently, a draw would be a decent result to stop the current run of defeats and take us a step closer to definite safety.
Sam Allardyce said in his pre-match presser the other day that no plans for the summer will be given the go ahead until we are mathematically safe. So the quicker that happens the quicker we can start concentrating on ensuring we don’t suffer another frustrating and bland season like this one.
Whether those plans will involved Allardyce remains to be seen but, either way, it’d be some going if we to have an even worse campaign next year.
Can we win today? On our day we can beat anyone, we just haven’t had many of our days this season. Hopefully today is one of them.
Verdict: Everything points to a score draw. Another 3-3?
Team News:
West Bromwich Albion (16th, 33 points)
Liam Ridgewell will sit out with a knee injury, while defender Gareth McAuley faces a late fitness test due to a calf problem.
West Ham United (12th, 37 points)
Matty Taylor has been given compassionate leave.
Marco Borriello remains sideleind, but Guy Demel is expected to return after sitting the last game out with a virus.
Last 10 Meetings:
Match in Numbers:
5 – Five of the last six meetings between these two sides have ended in draws.
0 – Pepe Mel is yet to win a home game gave as West Brom manager. He has drawn six and lost one at home under him.
3 – The Baggies have conceded three goals in each of their last three home games.
20 – West Ham have lost 20 points from winning positions this season, which is a divisional high.
9 – West Ham haven’t kept a clean sheet in nine matches.
4 – West Brom have won just four of their 16 games against teams in the bottom half of the table this season.
15 – The Baggies have drawn 15 of their 34 league games this season, which is a league high.
50 – A loss for West Ham will be Sam Allardyce’s 50th defeat as Hammers boss.
Scored Predictions:
@WestHamWorld west ham 1-0
— ⚒ Boonie ⚒ (@Joel_Boon) April 26, 2014
@westhamworld 0-3, 3 times Carroll
— Tomm (@Tom4R_) April 26, 2014
@WestHamWorld West brom 0
West Ham.2…..Carroll…Noble
— Subby Patel (@SubbyPatelWhufc) April 26, 2014
@WestHamWorld 1-9, Carroll 3, Nolan 2, noble, Reid with a header, downing wonder strike and a Adrian penalty to top it all off haha!
— Harry COYI Hamilton (@Harryhamilton97) April 26, 2014
Head-to-Head (all competitions):
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GD +/- | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 107 | 41 | 26 | 40 | 170 | 172 | -2 | 38.32% |
