After stunning Chelsea on Monday evening, Watford will look to make it two league wins in a row under new coach Javi Gracia when they travel to the London Stadium to take on West Ham this weekend.
The Hornets gained their first win under Gracia, who took over the reins at Vicarage Road following the sacking of Marcos Silva- their first in the league since their Boxing Day triumph against Leicester. It took them to 11th in the table, and they can put more space between themselves and the bottom three with victory at West Ham, where David Moyes is suddenly grappling with injuries and fatigue after an encouraging start to his tenure.
The Hammers were beaten 3-1 by Brighton last weekend. It was a fixture between a side that had not won in the league in 2018 and one that had not lost a league game in the New Year. The game was a level one till half time, with Javier Hernandez’s superbly taken goal cancelling out Glen Murray’s 8th minute opener. However Moyes has been unable to rest several of his key players owing to the injury crisis at the London Stadium and fatigue took its toll in the second half as the home side slumped to a 3-1 loss. Jose Izquierdo scored an absolute stunner on the hour mark– a goal worthy of winning any game, to put Albion 2-1 ahead before Pascal Gross put icing on the cake with his 75th minute effort.
West Ham moved to sign left back Patrice Evra on a free transfer to add depth to their wingback position, but the French defender may be eased in from the bench- he has not played top flight football since November. Winston Reid has a throat infection, so Moyes may be forced to continue with Rice, Collins and Ogbonna in the back three.
Watford have a long injury list too, with Miguel Britos joining Christian Kabasele, Craig Cathcart, Younes Kaboul, Tom Cleverley, Heurelho Gomes, Will Hughes, Kiko Feminia, Jerome Sinclair and Nathaniel Chalobah on the sidelines. The Hornets won 4-2 at the London Stadium last season, and West Ham have won only one game at home against a team above them in the table so far in 2017/18. If you fancy the Hornets to do a league double- they’re 36/17 to win on Sunday, you might want to place a bet with bonuscodegenerator.
West Ham have won only one of their last five at home against Watford and defeat here could drag them back into the relegation dogfight after they appeared to have come out of it last month. They’re 12th in the table, but only three points separate them from 18th place Stoke.
West Ham v Watford kicks off on Saturday 10 February, 2018 at 15.00 UK (Graham Scott referee)