English Premier League Soccer - Newcastle United vs. West Ham United, 7/5/20 - Preview, Prediction & Odds
Two teams, which have both triumphed in their last match, will face off against one another, as 13th-placed Newcastle United are about to play host to 16th-placed West Ham United. Kick-off - at 9:15 AM ET on Sunday, July 5.
Newcastle Shine Versus Cherries
Newcastle United extended their unbeaten run in the league to five games (W3 D2) after thrashing struggling Bournemouth with a count of 4-1 away at Vitality Stadium on Wednesday. French winger Allan Saint-Maximin proved the hero of the match, providing assists for the first three markers of the game, with Dwight Gayle, Sean Longstaff, and Miguel Almiron all on the scoreboard. Valentino Lazaro also found the back of the net for the Magpies, who have lost just one of their previous seven outings in all competitions (W4 D2 L1). The team sits 13th in the Premier League (W11 D9 L12), just five points below the top-seven.
Englishman Jonjo Shelvey (5 goals), Paraguayan attacking midfielder Almiron (3) and Wednesday’s star Saint-Maximin (3) are Newcastle’s highest-scoring players in the league this year. Goalie Martin Dubravka, meanwhile, sits at the top of the EPL table with 119 saves. He has posted 10 clean sheets in 32 games this season and concedes a goal every 67 minutes of play. The Magpies are 15th in most league snipes netted this year (33), 15th in most shots taken per game (10.5), the bottom of England’s top-flight in ball possession (41.5%) and 16th in passing accuracy (74.8%).
West Ham Stun Chelsea In Derby
West Ham United’s battle for Premier League survival took a positive turn after the team ended a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory against Chelsea at London Stadium on Wednesday. Tomas Soucek and Michail Antonio gave the Hammers a 2-1 lead following Chelsea’s opening snipe from the penalty spot after Soucek’s earlier goal was disallowed by VAR, with Andriy Yarmolenko netting the winner in the 89th minute of the game after the Blues leveled with a free-kick 18 minutes from time. West Ham now sit 16th in the league with a W8 D6 L18 record, three points above the drop-zone.
Sebastien Haller (7 goals), Robert Snodgrass (5), Mark Noble (4) and Yarmolenko (4) lead the Hammers in Premier League snipes but only have the latter 100% fit for the upcoming fixture. Goalie Lukasz Fabianski, meanwhile, sits 19th in the league with 57 saves. He has recorded four clean sheets in 19 appearances this season and gives up a goal every 56 minutes on average. West Ham is 11th in most goals scored during the ongoing campaign (38), 16th in most shots posted per game (10.3), 16th in ball possession (44.8%), and 15th in passing accuracy (75.8%).
Prediction
West Ham United’s 3-2 victory against Chelsea on Wednesday was definitely impressive. But London derbies are a different thing! The Hammers have been struggling for a long time now, posting just a single Premier League triumph in 10 games prior to the win against the Blues (W1 D2 L7). Besides, West Ham has managed to squeeze out just two victories in their last six EPL meetings with Newcastle United (W2 L4), who, on the other hand, have been super solid on their own turf this season. The Magpies have dropped just three of their past 18 domestic decisions in all competitions (W7 D8 L3), currently riding a five-game unbeaten run at St. James’ Park in the Premier League (W2 D3).
Best bet:
Newcastle to win (+170)