EPL: Manchester United V West Ham United – Saturday, 28th August (LIVE GAME)

Manchester United V West Ham United

Saturday, 28th August – 17:30 GMT
LIVE on ESPN

Manchester United

League Position: 3rd
League Form: WD

The Manchester United boss wasn’t best pleased with the complacency shown by his players, as well as the lack of respect given to their opponents Fulham on Sunday as United let two possible pivotal points slip through their grasp in a game they seemingly had full control of. Despite leading 2-1 with less than five minutes to play, United somehow went on to miss a spot-kick before allowing Fulham defender Breda Hangeland to get in a free header at goal and equaliser with just minutes remaining on the clock. To say Alex Ferguson wasn’t amused would be putting it lightly, and it’s unlikely that we’ll see too many mistakes from the Reds this Saturday as they look  to avoid another Fergie rant when they host low starters West Ham at Old Trafford.

The player at fault for United’s slip up appeared to be Portuguese winger Nani, who missed a late penalty which would have surely sealed a first win at Craven Cottage in two years. His spot-kick was comfortably saved by David Stockdale in the Fulham to leave Sir Alex fuming on the touchline, to which he couldn’t hide his frustration in a post-match interview when all but saying ‘why on earth was Nani taking it when he’s clearly not the best penalty taker in my team?’ Then the blame seemingly fell at Ryan Giggs’ mat, with Fergie claiming Giggs should have taken the spot-kick and was dismay when he didn’t even put his name forward. Either way, there’s clearly a lack of communication inside that United dressing room right now although we’re sure one of Ferguson hair-dryer specials will have talked sense into the pair of them, while the smart money is on Ryan Giggs taking the next spot-kick, or at least anyone other than Nani.

Their failure to convert a winning position into three points was bitterly disappointing if your a United fan, ecstasy if your a rival supporter, but either way that disappointment needs to be cast aside for now and all their attention and focus should avert to Saturday’s clash with West Ham, which in all fairness should be a three point banker for the Red Devils. The Hammers have been one of the poorest performers in the league so far, picking up zero points from their opening two games as well as conceding more than enough to have the United forward duo of Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney, who missed the 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage, licking their lips.

God forbid should Fergie’s men slip up this weekend, as the feisty Scot will be waiting in the wing ready to give the most hellish post-match team talk he’s ever given, as United really shouldn’t drop any points in this fixture. A baron Wayne Rooney, who hasn’t scored a competitive goal since March, should return to lend a helping hand to strike partner Dimitar Berbatov who, let’s face it, can do with all the help he can get. However, most of the focus will be on the in form Paul Scholes, who was instrumental once again for United at the weekend but even his industry and ingenuity efforts couldn’t see the team to victory over Fulham. But with Rooney back, with a sigh of relief in some corners, United should have way too much prowess up front for a hapless Hammers side.

West Ham United

League Position: 19th
League Form: LL

This isn’t the best time to be a West Ham supporter, although, is there ever a good time to be a Hammer fan? Fans were actually quite jubilant and rejoiced when the club announced the capture of Israeli manager Avram Grant as Gianfranco Zola’s replacement, but the former Chelsea and Portsmouth tactician has yet to produce anything remotely positive since taking the helm and the pressure is already mounting on the manager which guided relegated Portsmouth to the final of the FA Cup last term, despite the season being just two game olds.

It really has been a torrid start for the Hammers who haven’t got a point to their name after their opening two league fixtures and already find themselves in the bottom three. Of course, it goes without saying that the season is wrong and there is still plenty of time for West Ham to change their surroundings by collecting a few useful points, but their opening couple of fixtures were hardly fierce encounters on paper and the fact they#ve struggled to even compete in both is of great concern to ever punter, while there’s little indication that they will even cause a blimp on Manchester United’s radar this Saturday afternoon.

Avram Grant was outfought by his opposite number at the weekend, with Owen Coyle pinpointing West Ham’s poor aerial ability as a possible route of entry into Robert Green’s goal, who has now conceded three goals in each of his starts this season. In fairness, Green wasn’t at all to blame for West Ham’s concessions at the back. Their defending at times was terrible, as it was for the most part last season, but the sheer fact West Ham are seemingly playing without any sort of game plan is really worrying, disturbing in actual fact, as no-one really knows what on earthy they are doing. There is also a lack of confidence in camp, with their strikers especially, as Carlton Cole’s spot-kick miss when the score was level epitomises their apparent lack of self belief right now.

I really don’t see how West Ham will live with United on Saturday even if the same Manchester United which barely turned up in the second half at Craven Cottage last Sunday makes an appearance. For starters, any team which visits Old Trafford needs a solid and dependable defence to fall back on, as United will ask plenty of questions throughout 90 minutes. You also need a backbone in your team, which West Ham do have to some respect in Mark Noble and Scott Parker in midfield, but as good as these two midfielders are, West Ham always find themselves being overrun in the centre of the park purely because they cannot keep the ball long enough. It will be backs to walls stuff for West Ham I fear and if United do score early on and get their tails up, West Ham heads will start to fall and with that should follow more goals. It just seems to big an ask just to pick up a point.

Match Prediction: Manchester United to WIN – 1.17 SkyBet

This has the makings to be a contest where come half-time we could be talking about how many United will score.

United’s first home outing this season went completely to plan, controlling their match with Newcastle United from start to finish as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over a team which later went on to record an emphatic 6-0 win over Aston Villa. West Ham, though, well they arrive in Manchester following two miserable defeats, although getting what they deserved on both occasions. Their defence has been jagged and wayward, their midfield hasn’t been able to get the ball down enough and distribute the ball as they should, while their forward have been wasteful, not that the latter should matter as chances are likely to be few and far between at Old Trafford this Saturday.

With the possibility of Wayne Rooney returning to the starting eleven, United should have far too much quality for the Hammers regardless of whether their number ten starts or not. Dimitar Berbatov wasn’t as impressive away at Fulham last weekend as he was on the opening day of the season but he has shown enough to indicate that he does have more confidence, is willing to put in a shift or two and does know where the goal is, or at least he thinks he does. Anyhow, I’m sure Berbatov will receive a glutton of chances via the creativity and vision of Paul Scholes, so the law of averages would indicate him scoring at some point meaning West Ham have no chance whatsoever considering an away goal looks out of the question.

Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.17 SkyBet
Draw – 8.00 Bet365
West Ham United – 23.00 Boylesports

Soccer-Betting Tip: Manchester United to Win by 3 or More Goals – 2.25 SkyBet