Win today and we’ll be in the top four at Christmas – how does that sound?
Last Christmas we were just a point above the bottom three after winning just three of our opening 17 games. It’s amazing how far you can go in 12 months.
Today we welcome a Leicester City side who are rock bottom of the Premier League and without a win in 11 games. Most will be expecting us to go out there and wipe the floor with them, but we’re West Ham and how often do we actually put four or five past a side without reply?
There’s no doubting we’ve got the ability and momentum to make it happen, we also thought that when Aston Villa came to town and that ended goalless.
That said, I can’t see anything other than all three points today. Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho linked up so well in the win over Swansea and if they can do that again today, Leicester will struggled to contain them.
We just need be proffessional about the way go about things today and we’ll end the day with all three points and a top four spot at Christmas.
If I’m honest, that’s all I care about. Three points and the best Christmas present ever.
Team News
West Ham United (4th, 28 points)
Mark Noble is West Ham’s only injury problem, as he continues to be sidelined with an achilles injury.
Other than that, Sam Allardyce has full squad to pick from.
Leicester City (20th, 10 points)
David Nugent could return to the starting line-up after missing last week’s defeat to Man City.
Ritchie de Laet may also return after illness, but stopper Kasper Schmeichel and former West Ham captain Matthew Upson remain sidelined.
Possible starting XI
Last 10 Meetings
| Date | Competition | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Apr 2012 | Championship | King Power Stadium | W 2-1 |
| 29 Oct 2011 | Championship | Boleyn Ground | W 3-2 |
| 18 Mar 2005 | Championship | Boleyn Ground | D 2-2 |
| 7 Aug 2004 | Championship | King Power Stadium | D 0-0 |
| 12 Jan 2002 | Premier League | Boleyn Ground | W 1-0 |
| 22 Dec 2001 | Premier League | Filbert Street | D 1-1 |
| 23 Dec 2000 | Premier League | Filbert Street | L 2-1 |
| 23 Aug 2000 | Premier League | Boleyn Ground | L 1-0 |
| 22 Jan 2000 | Premier League | Filbert Street | W 3-1 |
| 21 Aug 1999 | Premier League | Boleyn Ground | W 2-1 |
Match in Numbers
15 – West Ham have won 15 of their last 17 meetings with Leicester at Upton Park.
6 – And they are unbeaten in their last six league matches against the Foxes, home and away.
1 – West Ham have lost just one their last ten Premier League outings.
11 – While Leicester are without a win in 11 Premier League games.
5 – Stewart Downing has been involved five goals in his last six Premier League appearances (two goals, three assists)
4 – The Hammers are unbeaten in four matches
4 – A win today will guarantee West Ham a spot in the top four at Christmas.
20 – While Leicester will be bottom at Christmas if they fail to win today.
Fan Predictions
https://twitter.com/JoshGFCKeeble/status/546251180519993346
@WestHamWorld 3-0 #COYI
— ⚒Dancey⚒ (@thomas_dance) December 20, 2014
https://twitter.com/Davefrom1987/status/546252771515981824
@WestHamWorld 4-0 West Ham Carroll hat-rick and Valencia
— TMJamie⚒⚒⚒ (@jamiesandison1) December 20, 2014
https://twitter.com/SeanFennell5/status/546259000288116736
Head-to-Head (all competitions)
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GD +/- | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 137 | 53 | 35 | 49 | 223 | 205 | +18 | 38.69% |
