Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
In a Monday-night showdown, two sides destined to concede take the stage. Wolverhampton boast the poorest defence in the league, having let in 36 goals, while West Ham United aren't faring much better with 27.
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton have been on a rollercoaster in recent weeks, alternating between scoring four and conceding the same number. Their fortunes have swung with a win against Fulham (4:1), followed by losses to Bournemouth (2:4) and Everton (0:4). In a broader context of their last 10 matches, only once did they end with fewer than three goals—a 2:0 win over Southampton.
West Ham United
It's worth mentioning that out of the 36 goals conceded by Wolverhampton, 11 came from free kicks and corners, while another 5 were from penalties. As for their opponents, West Ham United have scored four from free kicks and two from the penalty spot. Their only goal in the recent match against Leicester City (1:3) came from a corner, highlighting the importance for West Ham to frequently test the opposition goalkeeper in pursuit of corner opportunities and to fearlessly take on defenders. Conveniently, the return of forward Niclas Füllkrug after a three-month hiatus comes at the right time. It was his towering presence that netted the goal against Leicester City from a corner, having been on the pitch for just 11 minutes.
West Ham United vs Wolverhampton Prediction
We foresee it only going over 2.5, given that West Ham United have seen this outcome pay off in 7 of their last 10 matches. We also anticipate that the team won't lose. They need to assert themselves, and where better to do so than against an opponent who concedes so frequently from free kicks and corners?
