West Ham vs Southampton predictions: Second-half Hammers can add to Saints’ woes
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- Just three places separate West Ham and Southampton, but the hosts are 25 points ahead
- The Saints have failed to score in their last two meetings with the Hammers
- Recommended bet: Half Time/Full Time – Tie/West Ham
Two teams that have failed to win any of their last five games meet at the London Stadium, but West Ham will be expecting to end that victory drought against bottom-club Southampton.
The Hammers ran leaders Liverpool close at Anfield last weekend and now go in search of a third consecutive win over the Saints.
Southampton are already relegated and it looks likely that several of their squad will not be at St Mary’s next season, while the only thing they have to play for is beating Derby’s lowest ever points tally of 11.
Team news
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Despite needing a pain-killing injection in his toe, Graham Potter has said Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be fit to play on Saturday.
The Hammers are still without Crysencio Summerville, who Potter says is still a “few weeks” away from making his return.
Michail Antonio remains on the sidelines, while the Hammers boss admits he has to be careful with Niclas Fullkrug’s game time after a hamstring problem.
Interim Southampton manager Simon Rusk has revealed that striker Paul Onuachu is 50-50 and faces a fitness test on Friday.
Flynn Downes is available again after suspension, while Rusk has hinted that youngster Jay Robinson might feature again having made his debut against Aston Villa.
The stats
West Ham have collected four points from their last three games at the London Stadium.
The Hammers beat Leicester and Ipswich, the other teams in the relegation zone, on home soil.
All of West Ham’s last four goals have come in the second half.
Southampton have won just one of their 16 away league games this season, losing 13.
Saints have won just one of their last 12 league meetings with West Ham.
Prediction
It is hard to make a case for Southampton getting anything from their latest trip to the capital, especially with West Ham showing signs of improvement under Potter.
A 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth looked like being followed by a point at Liverpool, until Virgil van Dijk’s late header snatched the win for the leaders.
Not only have Saints claimed just one point from their last eight league games, but they have also scored just five goals during that run.
They have drawn a blank in the last two meetings with the Hammers, which includes a 1-0 defeat at St Mary’s on Boxing Day.
Jarrod Bowen scored the winner that day while the England forward also scored in the Hammers' most recent home game.
It is worth noting that the Irons' last four strikes have come in the second half of matches, while nine of the last 12 goals conceded by Saints have been after the break.
West Ham won the reverse fixture on Boxing Day 1-0, with Bowen scoring the decisive goal in the 59th minute.
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