Now, Let’s Build on Villa Result

After the dramatic last minute winner on Wednesday, against Aston Villa, West Ham have another home game on Sunday.

The visitors to Upton Park are Everton. They are rather out of sorts at the moment, due to an injury list that is the size of the one West Ham endured recently. They sit above the Hammers on 12 points. A win for the East Londoners will see them leapfrog the Merseysiders.

Of course, the Hammers have their own injuries to contend with. Both Carlton Cole and Herita Illunga suffered hamstring strains on Wednesday evening. The two are very doubtful. Spector will deputise for Illunga, whilst I hope that Zavon Hines will be rewarded for his winning goal against Villa with a starting berth. His pace really worried the Villa defence, and he will scare the Toffees back line to death with his turn of speed. The Hammers midfield looks settled, with Collison and Behrami nearing their best again. It was no coincidence that Mark Noble had his best game in ages,last time out. Scott Parker is playing out of his skin at present, although he needs to stop getting booked!

Back to Everton. Their injury list is rather scary.  Arteta, Jagielka, Anichebe, Osman, Pienaar, Vaughan, Hibbert and Neville are definitely out, whilst Louis Saha faces a late fitness test on his calf injury. Russian winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is suspended. So, the Merseysiders will have to dig deep to win this one.

John Heitinga and Lucas Neill are both available for David Moyes’ men after being ineligible for Thursday’s Europa League match with Benfica. I believe that Arteta’s prolonged absence has been the major reason for Everton’s poor start to the season. The Toffees have missed his creativity and will be looking to get more goals out  of Tim Cahill, Marouane Fellaini, Jo and Yakubu, who have  just two Premier League goals between them all season.

prediction

West Ham 3 Everton 1