Premier League: Hammers Hoping For Some Black Country Delight

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United

After the international weekend, domestic football is back on the agenda and Premier League: Wolves vs West Ham is one of the picks from the English top flight.

The battle in the Black Country pitches two in form sides, Wolves in eighth place and West Ham in third after four consecutive victories. The hosts come into the clash on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, while David Moyes’ Hammers pulled off a stunning 3-2 win over title hopefuls Liverpool..

The pre-match Wolves vs West Ham 2021 betting odds say we’re in for a fascinating contest with little to choose between all three possible outcomes. The Hammers are marginal favourites at SBOTOP odds of 2.38 with Wolves at 2.73 and the draw at 3.20. And another win for David Moyes’ side will keep them in the top four, while a victory for the hosts will help them to regain momentum.

Talking Points

Wolves aiming for bounce back

Having lost four of the first five games this season new head coach Bruno Lage kept his nerve and Wolves have since taken 13 points from six games, including four wins and a draw. But they suffered a setback last time out when Wilfried Zaha and Conor Gallagher were on target as Crystal Palace inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the Gold and Blacks.

Premier League: Conor Coady made an impressive performance for England during the international break — Conor Coady in action for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Leeds United

The West Midlands side has looked stronger since the return of start striker Raul Jimenez and he’s already contributed two goals while leading the line impressively, and forward Hee Chan Hwang, on loan from Red Bull Leipzig, has been a revelation, scoring four goals after failing to get off the mark with Die Roten Bullen last season.

At the other end of the pitch 28 year old centre back Conor Coady has been a rock at the heart of Wolves’ defence and he has recently received more England recognition, skippering the Three Lions in the second half of their 10-0 destruction of San Marino. In the defeat at Selhurst Park Crystal Palace’s second goal took a deflection off Coady but he won’t worry about that. The experienced defender, alongside partner Romain Saiss, will put his body on the line whenever Wolves are under the cosh.

Wolves have won their last two home games, against Everton and Newcastle, both by a 2-1 margin and they will back themselves for a repeat if they hit top form at each end of the pitch.

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West Ham hopeful of Rice return

David Moyes, who recently completed his 1,000^th game as a head coach, has worked a minor miracle at the London Stadium to follow up a fifth place finish with a fantastic start this season, while they are also thriving in the Europa League.

They return from the international break on a run of four consecutive league wins and the Hammers are hot on the heels of leaders Chelsea and Manchester City, level on points with the Sky Blues. The belief running through the team is phenomenal but there is no little quality in the side, epitomised by the ever improving Declan Rice. The 22 year old defensive midfielder had a brilliant Euro 2020 and he has carried his form back to East London where he runs the midfield and has contributed three league assists. Rice returned from the England camp early due to illness (not Covid) and the Hammers are hoping he will make a full recovery in time to face Wolves.

Up front Michail Antonio is bang in form, with six goals, while Pablo Fornals is now really starting to show his worth with four goals. There will be an enforced change at the back though, after centre back Angelo Ogbonna injured his knee in the win over Liverpool so we could see Craig Dawson line up alongside Kurt Zouma.

History

The head-to-head Wolves vs West Ham results are on a knife edge, with the Hammers ahead by seven to six and there has been just one draw in the 14 meetings since 2004.

Last season David Moyes’ team triumphed in a five goal thriller at Molineux. They raced into a three goal lead thanks to goals from Jesse Lingard, Fornals and Jarrod Bowen, and then hung on for all three points after Leander Dendoncker and Fabian Silva replied for Wolves.

The victory completed West Ham’s first league double over Wolves since 1923, and they will fancy a repeat this season. The Hammers have won four and drawn one on the road this term, and are unbeaten in seven in all competitions.

Betting Tip

	Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Ham United	Over 2.50 @ 2.11
	November 20, 23:00 (GMT+8)

I think West Ham have the edge in this game, but Wolves could quite easily come out on top and, with seven of the last 12 games involving these two teams yielding Over 2.50 goals, and only three less than 1.50, I’m expecting an entertaining clash with plenty of goalmouth action.