Ivan fires Bees to derby victory, leaving Hammers seeing red
West Ham’s recent struggles continue as they prepare to face Brentford in a highly-anticipated London derby at the London Stadium. The Hammers have endured a tough run of form, losing their last three matches without scoring a single goal. The downward spiral began with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Manchester United, followed by a humiliating 6-0 thrashing by Arsenal, which prompted fans to stage a mass walkout. Their woes continued with a 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest and an FA Cup replay defeat to Bristol City.
David Moyes, the manager of West Ham, has been under increasing pressure due to the team’s poor performances. However, despite the growing unrest among fans, the board has offered Moyes a new contract. This decision may be seen as a recognition of the board’s contribution to the club’s current plight, as they could have provided more funds for transfers after selling star player Declan Rice to Arsenal.
On the other side of the pitch, Brentford is also looking to bounce back from a series of disappointing results. They have lost four of their last five matches, including a 4-1 defeat to Premier League leaders Liverpool and a 1-0 loss to reigning champions Manchester City. However, Ivan Toney, Brentford’s top scorer, has been in impressive form since returning from suspension and will be looking to continue his goal-scoring streak.
Despite West Ham’s home advantage, Brentford could pose a real threat. Lucas Paqueta, the Brazilian midfielder, is expected to return for West Ham, which will strengthen their midfield. However, Toney’s ability to find the net and his recent run of form make him a dangerous player to watch out for.
In terms of betting odds, Toney is priced at 9/2 with bet365 to open the scoring and 6/4 to score at any time. James Ward-Prowse, West Ham’s last goal scorer at the London Stadium, is priced at 4/1 with Sky Bet to score at any time.
Brentford is considered the underdog in this match, with odds of 37/20 to win. A 2-1 away victory for Brentford is priced at 10/1 with William Hill. Fans are advised to avoid traveling via Stratford around 9pm, as the area is expected to be busy.
In other news, Coventry’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against non-league Maidstone United is predicted to have over 4.5 goals, with odds of 7/4 from Paddy Power. Additionally, Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz is worth considering for an each-way bet at 11/2 with Sky Bet to win the Dubai Championship.
Despite West Ham’s recent struggles, this London derby promises to be an exciting clash between two teams looking to get back on track. Both sides will be eager to secure a much-needed victory and regain some momentum in their respective campaigns.