Despite last weekend’s unlucky defeat at Old Trafford, there’s still a lot of optimism surrounding the club.
A win against Harry Redknapp’s QPR could lift us up to the heady heights of fifth in the Premier League if other results go our way and we significantly increase a goal difference with a comfortable victory.
But Redknapp seems to have a habit of avoiding defeat at Upton Park since leaving us, never losing to a West Ham team when visiting with the likes of Portsmouth and Tottenham.
But that should end today, with us looking good and still buzzing off that 3-1 win over Liverpool and QPR struggling away from home and looking like a team who will be battling for their top-flight safety all season.
The statistics don’t look to promising for us, though. Along with that awful home record against Redknapp, we’ve only collected three points from a possible nine at home so far this season and are the only side in the top flight that is yet to register a clean sheet.
QPR, on the other hand, have only scored one goal on their travels so far this term – that wonderful Charlie Austin effort in their 2-1 defeat at Southampton last week – and only Burnley have scored less goals than them after six games. They’re bottom of the pile with just one win from their opening six fixtures and a goal difference of -13.
That should be more than enough to tempt Allardyce in to taking the game to QPR from the off and putting their weak defence under severe pressure, with the likes of Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia looking to enjoy themselves up against an ageing former Hammer in Rio Ferdinand. Both of them should be confident that they can find the net this afternoon.
And it’s former Hammers that I’ll end this preview on. Robert Green, Rio Ferdinand and Bobby Zamora all return to the Boleyn Ground today and all should be given a great reception.
Green made 241 appearances in all competitions for us between the sticks and was as solid as they come for a very long time, particularly in the Championship. The way he left us wasn’t quite the way we’d have all expected from him, but he still gave us everything he had during his time at the club and that’s what he should be remembered for.
Zamora scored 40 goals in 152 appearances for us, with his most memorable goal coming in that play-off final victory over Preston at the Millennium Stadium.
And Rio Ferdinand is one of the most famous products of our famed youth academy, going on to win Premier League titles, Champions Leagues and even captain England.
So make sure you give them all a good reception this afternoon at the Boleyn Ground.
Prediction: Three points in the bag and a return to the top half of the table.
Team News
West Ham United (16th, 7 points)
Guy Demel is doubtful after picking up a knock in training this week, so Carl Jenkinson is expected to start ahead of him.
Matt Jarvis could feature for the first time this season after getting over a troubling thigh problem, while Kevin Nolan could be inline for a first start since a shoulder injury ruled him out back in August.
Mark Noble has been ruled out after he picked up an injury in the 3-1 win over Liverpool.
Queens Park Rangers (20th, 4 points)
Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch will have late fitness tests as they struggle to shake off hamstring injuries.
Sandro has been cleared to play after suffering a blow to the head in their 2-1 defeat at Southampton last weekend.
Potential Starting XI
Last 10 Meetings
| Date | Competition | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jan 2013 | Premier League | Boleyn Ground | D 1-1 |
| 1 Oct 2012 | Premier League | Loftus Road | W 2-1 |
| 6 Nov 2004 | Championship | Boleyn Ground | W 2-1 |
| 16 Oct 2004 | Championship | Loftus Road | L 1-0 |
| 27 Apr 1996 | Premier League | Loftus Road | L 3-0 |
| 25 Nov 1995 | Premier League | Boleyn Ground | W 1-0 |
| 3 May 1995 | Premier League | Boleyn Ground | D 0-0 |
| 28 Jan 1995 | FA Cup 4th Round | Loftus Road | L 1-0 |
| 4 Dec 1994 | Premier League | Loftus Road | L 2-1 |
| 3 May 1994 | Premier League | Loftus Road | D 0-0 |
Match in Numbers
4 – West Ham are unbeaten in their last four home games against QPR
7 – The Hammers’ tally of seven points is two more than they had at this stage last term
0 – Sam Allardyce’s are the only team yet to have registered a clean sheet in the top flight
0 – While QPR are the only side yet to pick up a single point on the road so far this season
1 – Redknapp’s side have scored just once on the road so far this season
4 – And they have scored just four goals in total, with only Burnley scoring less with three.
Betting Offer
Fancy us to win on Sunday? Get us at 5/1 to beat #QPR | #WHUFC #COYI | https://t.co/zSDp1LhhzP
— WestHamWorld.co.uk (@WestHamWorld) October 3, 2014
Fan Predictions
@WestHamWorld 3-1 to the Mighty Hammers!
— 父 Dan'afra 父 (@Danamuel1) October 5, 2014
https://twitter.com/RyanGodbold1/status/518680260607758336
@WestHamWorld 3-1 sakho hat trick
— ⚒Daniel Hossack⚒ (@dan_hossack) October 5, 2014
@WestHamWorld 2-1 win. Valencia to score
— dan hunter (@deathcabdan) October 5, 2014
https://twitter.com/Brad_Pinard/status/518677195452329984
Head-to-Head (all competitions)
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GD +/- | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 117 | 51 | 29 | 37 | 179 | 154 | +25 | 43.58% |
