Life hasn’t improved a great deal at West Ham United since the arrival of David Moyes. Just the one point earned so far, and the fixture list doesn’t get any easier as they start the Premier League weekend with a home game against in-form Chelsea.
David Moyes knew he had a tough task breathing new life into West Ham United but the job appears to be a lot tougher than he imagined. He’s four games into his reign at the London Stadium and the only point he has so far was in a home draw with Leicester City. They came close to a point at the Etihad last weekend, but a late David Silva goal condemned them to another defeat.
A run of two points from six Premier League games have seen the Hammers sink to 19th in the table and they are three points from safety. That’s virtually four due to their terrible goal difference and with successive home games against Chelsea and Arsenal, they could find that gap getting a little bit wider.
Home form has seen them win two of their six games. Those victories were against Swansea City and Huddersfield Town and are their only two league wins of the season. Looking at the calibre of the teams they have been able to beat shows just why they are in such a mess at present. Defence is a big problem for Moyes to sort out with his side having conceded in their last nine league and cup games. Not just conceding but in seven of those nine matches, West Ham have conceded at least twice. Hardly the kind of stats you need before taking on Chelsea and Arsenal in the space of four days.
Chelsea are third in the Premier League but 11 points behind the league leaders. Their perfect weekend will be an away win at West Ham and then sit back and watch United draw with City on Sunday. They come into this game in top form and on an unbeaten run of seven Premier League games since that upset defeat at Crystal Palace. They have players such as Alvaro Morata, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard in great form at present and that spells trouble for West Ham United.
Chelsea have only lost one of their last nine away Premier League games and two in the last 16. Unlike their opponents, they have a decent fixture list on the horizon with games against Huddersfield Town, Southampton, Bournemouth, Everton, Brighton and Hove Albion and Stoke City looking full of points as they wait for the Manchester clubs to falter.
Conclusion
It looks like being a gloomy Christmas for West Ham United followed by a hectic January transfer window. The arrival of David Moyes is yet to provide any real signs of hope that they can avoid relegation. With two home games against Chelsea and Arsenal in just four days, their leaky defence could have a December nightmare. Chelsea are in top form at present but even with four wins out of the last five league games, they aren’t making any in-roads to the lead that Manchester City have over them. That might change this weekend and Chelsea can get an away win here to keep up the pressure on the top two.
The Key Stats
Last Five Premier League Results – Most recent first
West Ham – LLDLL
Chelsea – WWDWW
Head to Head – Last Five League Meetings
06/03/17 – West Ham United 1 Chelsea 2
15/08/16 – Chelsea 2 West Ham United 1
19/03/16 – Chelsea 2 West Ham United 2
24/10/15 – West Ham United 2 Chelsea 1
04/03/15 – West Ham United 0 Chelsea 1
- West Ham United have conceded in their last nine league and cup games.
- West Ham United have scored in all but one of their seven home league and cup games this season.
- The last five West Ham United goals have all been scored by different players.
- West Ham United have conceded in four of their last five home Premier League matches.
- West Ham United have lost five of their last seven Premier League games.
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games.
- Chelsea have scored in each of their last eight Premier League matches.
- Both teams have scored in the last five league and cup games played between these two sides.
- Chelsea have scored in their last seven league and cup games against West Ham United.
- Chelsea have scored in their last nine away Premier League games and 15 of the last 16.