Premier League preview: Manchester United v West Ham
After suffering their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, the last thing West Ham needed was a daunting trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
But it seems that things will have to get significantly worse for Avram Grant’s under-performing side before they can get better.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s team dropped two valuable points against Fulham last Sunday and, like a wounded animal, they’ll be intent on taking out some anger on the unfortunate Hammers this Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils put Newcastle to the sword at their home ground on the opening Monday of the campaign and a similar result would hardly be a shock this weekend.
As for their opponents: just where do you start? The fact that the Upton Park faithful were sent into raptures after Scott Parker grabbed an injury-time winner against League Two outfit Oxford United in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night said it all.
An embarrassing performance against Aston Villa on the opening day of the season was followed up by another humiliating defeat against Bolton in front of their home supporters last weekend. In both matches, the east Londoners looked disjointed, disinterested and were clearly lacking in confidence.
With a total lack of momentum, their away trip to Manchester could not have come at a worse time. The hosts will relish the prospect of West Ham’s arrival, though. As will star striker Wayne Rooney, who is desperate to score his first goal since March – the last thing West Ham needed.
The England international will be chomping at the bit after missing the Fulham match through illness, and only the foolish would bet against him ending his long drought against this disorganised Hammers side. It was in February when the two sides last met. Rooney was in the midst of a purple patch and duly grabbed a brace in a 3-0 win for the Red Devils. Will it be a similar story in the corresponding fixture?
Manchester United last suffered defeat against West Ham at Old Trafford in May 2007, when Carlos Tévez’s solo strike saved the visitors from relegation. However, United had already wrapped up the league title by the time that match was played and ended up taking their foot off the gas.
In the six league matches since then, Ferguson’s men have netted 16 goals, picking up maximum points in the process. And, as if West Ham’s fears needed cranking up a level, the fact that they haven’t won away from Upton Park since the opening day of last season really doesn’t bode well either.
The club’s supporters had hoped for a much brighter start under their new Israeli manager, Grant, who replaced Gianfranco Zola this summer. Under Grant’s stewardship, cash-strapped Portsmouth won just five league matches and were subsequently relegated to the Championship.
The West Ham faithful will now be fearing a similar nightmare. After their match against United, they host Chelsea, then travel to Stoke, before playing Tottenham. The prospect of them losing their opening six league matches is an increasingly realistic one, and if that happens, then they could find themselves heading towards another relegation dogfight.
West Ham are not the worst team in the top-flight. Far from it. But the atmosphere on the team coach as it travels up the M1 will be a sombre one, with resignation filling the air.
And only a miracle will save them from their third league defeat of the season at Old Trafford.
Prediction: Manchester United 4 West Ham 0
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