West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers Preview : Goals Looking Likely in Key Fixture

Last Updated : 16th June, 2020 By Steve A

VENUE

The London Stadium

TIME

Saturday 20 June 5.30pm

BROADCAST

Live on Sky Sports

See Stats

Both West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers would love to return to the Premier League with a victory. The Hammers are still in relegation trouble, while Wolves still have two chances to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Hammers Dare not Go Down

It's been a familiar season for West Ham and they will hope for the usual ending. They spend big in the summer, dream of qualifying for Europe and then end up in a relegation battle before surviving. This season they were actually in the top four early with just one loss in their first seven league games. Then it all went wrong for them. A form guide for the last 20 league games has them in the bottom three. 

Even the usual managerial change hasn't worked for them. David Moyes made his return but the Hammers were 17th in the table when the league was suspended, only out the bottom three on goal difference. Wins for Aston Villa and Watford earlier in the week would see them start this match in the relegation zone. Only one of their last nine league games have been won and they have to improve on that in the run-in. After all that spending last summer, relegation that would be a total disaster for the Hammers.

It can't be ruled out though with the Hammers as inconsistent as ever this season. It wasn't like that early on though, all that summer spending looked as if it might be working. Only one of their first seven league games was lost and that was an opening weekend hammering by Manchester City. Since then, it's all gone wrong and a form guide for the past 20 league fixtures has them in the bottom three. Even the usual sacking didn't work and David Moyes has a big task on his hands to keep them West Ham out of the bottom three.

Goals are likely in this game with West Ham having scored 11 goals in their last five home league games. Three times in the last five at home, West Ham have scored at least three goals. Only the top two in the table have gone to the London Stadium in the Premier League and kept a clean sheet. The problem is that the Hammers rarely keep clean sheets of their own with just one in the last 11.

Busy Time Ahead for Wolves

Wolves are in sixth place at the time of writing this preview. They have two chances to get into the Champions League for next season. There's still a chance that they could win the Europa League this season. Wolves drew the away first leg of their last sixteen tie against Olympiacos 1-1, so look good for a quarter final place. As for their league placing, Wolves are five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea but what if Manchester City's ban is upheld. Wanderers are only two points behind Manchester United. Whatever happens, they are in with a good chance of earning another season in the Europa League

Wolves do need to cut out the draws though with three of the last five league games not just ending level but goalless. That makes it 13 in the league this season, equal top with Arsenal. Six away games have been drawn with only three Premier League games lost. The last two wins have both been dramatic affairs. They trailed Tottenham 2-1 and Southampton 2-0 but still went home with all three points.  10 of their last 13 league matches have seen both teams score and only in three away games have they kept a clean sheet. Both teams scoring in this match looks extremely likely.