West Ham are lucky that this game got rescheduled because otherwise their last home game at Upton Park would’ve been a 4-1 defeat. To Swansea. A team that had nothing to play for. Instead they have the chance for a proper sendoff as they welcome Man United on Tuesday night in front of the cameras.
There are three simple stats that sum up how much of a shock that defeat to Swansea was for West Ham.
It was only their third defeat on home soil all season, their last one came in August.
They had beaten Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs as well as drawing with City and Arsenal.
They’d been averaging 2 goals per game at home before Saturday.
Picture the scene. You’ve organized a date with that chick from accounts that you’ve fancied for ages. Then as you wait at your table in the restaurant, you see that John Terry has come in – with your date. That’s how Slaven Bilic must’ve felt at full time. But John Terry’s suspended. And the Hammers have another chance.
It’s catch 22 situation for Louis Van Gaal. An unlikely Champions League spot is now at their mercy after Arsenal held Manchester City 2-2 on Sunday so he has little choice but to field a full strength side even if an FA Cup final is just around the corner?
LVG lost Anthony Martial in the warm up at Norwich on Saturday. It’s not like United’s second team is weak either though and they’ve been Kings of the single-goal wins.
West Ham United are not losing this game. Usually, there’s no room for sentiment in football, but if they weren’t mauled by the Swans on Saturday I’d probably be tipping United at odds of.
But this occasion is going to be massive with a full house, the last ever game, and still a Europa League place up for grabs for the home side. I expect a changed United side, but they’ve scored in eight of their last 11 games so they should net at least once. A West Ham win with both teams to score is. They could do it in style though. A 3-1 West Ham victory looks tempting at big odds of