West Ham look to take another step in the right direction on Saturday lunchtime (12.30pm), as they host a faltering Chelsea team. Can the Hammers build on what was a solid result last time out? Or will the visitors resume winning ways after consecutive draws? This WHU vs CFC preview, with its betting tips, aims to reveal all.
The Hammers continued to take baby steps away from the dreaded EPL drop zone on Saturday evening, as they came from behind to earn at point against a very useful Newcastle United team. Despite going down inside the opening minutes of that clash, David Moyes’ men delivered a steady, and sturdy performance on their way to drawing 1-1.
Their efforts on Tyneside followed an FA Cup win and a win in the Premier League when they were last in action at this venue. Going three games undefeated should give the hosts the confidence to believe that they can get the better of a Chelsea team that continues to disappoint.
Graham Potter’s Chelsea have made the headlines a lot in recent weeks, but not because of what they have done on the pitch. There has been lots of talk over their splashing out on new players, but such free spending is yet to bring about a surge up the table. Fans will be hoping that the signings of Mykhailo Mudryk, Enzo Fernandez and Joao Felix, who is now back from suspension having picked up a red card just 57 minutes into his debut, can help get the Blues back on track.
Last time out, Saturday’s visitors faltered at home to Fulham, drawing 0-0. That result came after they drew 0-0 at Anfield. Chelsea have now failed to win four of their last five Premier League games. As a result, they are ten points off the top four.
Toughening up
Moyes’ men may be suffering a bit this season, but they have started to toughen up in recent weeks, that’s for sure. After going on a torrid run that saw them lose five league games on the spin, they have now lost just one of their last four, conceding only four goals in the process, which is a bonus.
So, what has changed? For starters, they have made themselves harder to score against. The Hammers have conceded only four in their last four, conceding just two in their last three. They have also now gone three games without conceding multiple goals. Moreover, they have not been giving a great deal away in terms of chances, averaging just 0.8 xG against during that little spell.
We saw against Newcastle at the weekend that the Hammers can dig in and keep teams at bay. OK, they got off to a wobbly start, but the way in which they stuck at it and steadied themselves was pleasing. It would have been easy to collapse, but for the rest of the game, they didn’t give much away, walking off the pitch giving up just 1.0 in terms of xG. Lots of teams have done worse than that at St. James’ Park, as will a few others do between now and the end of the season.
Goals need to come from somewhere
Saturday’s visitors have one clear problem right now. They are not easily beaten, while they don’t give a great deal away either, but they are simply not doing enough offensively, especially in terms of getting the ball in the net.
The Blues have scored just 22 goals this season, which is far from good enough given where they want to be and the money that they have spent. Away from home, they have scored just nine times, which all things considered, is very poor. If anything, things have got worse in recent weeks. They have scored in neither of their last two games, while they have scored just two goals in their last five in the league.
Unfortunately, despite Potter trying various attacking combinations, nothing seems to be working. They lack a regular source of goals for a start. Kai Havertz is currently the top scorer with five, while Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling are the only other players in the squad to have scored more than two goals in the league. Somebody needs to step up.
Tough place to go
Chelsea have found the London Stadium to be something of a bogey ground in recent times. They won there in 2021, coming out on top by a goal to nil, but that is their only win in their last five visits to the East London venue. When the teams last met there, West Ham won by three goals to two. Saturday’s hosts have won three of their last five home games against Chelsea, scoring three times in two of those three victories.
When the teams faced off earlier in the current campaign, Chelsea won by two goals to one at Stamford Bridge, winning thanks to an 88th minute strike from Kai Havertz, who has subsequently scored just four goals in the league.
Hosts offer a smidgen of value
At the prices, ‘West Ham Draw No Bet’ stands out as a viable option. There was lots to like about the way the Hammers went about their business at Newcastle, so much so that they look a good price to get a positive result against this weak-looking Chelsea team.
The visitors have a good squad on paper and they have the quality to climb the table if things start coming together. The new signings may not have the instant impact that Potter is looking for, while they still look alarmingly short for goals.
It is Chelsea’s lack of goals that makes them look incredibly vulnerable here. The hosts have not scored loads themselves but their four in the last five, including two in their last home game, looks far better than Chelsea’s two in their last five.
So, for the betting tips against the leading bookmakers for this WHUFC vs CFC preview, here is our suggestion:
- West Ham Draw No Bet @ best odds of 11/8 with BetVictor.
Bradley Gibbs is an experienced football writer. He is an expert analyst on Premier League, and all global football leagues & tournaments, for Just Bookies. Bradley has been published by many respected outlets, including USA Betting and the Racing & Football Outlook. He has also written betting strategy guides.