West Ham United V Hull City Betting: Saturday, 20th February

West Ham United V Hull City

Saturday, 20^th February – 15:00 GMT

West Ham United

League Position: 14th

Recent Form: DDDLW

West Ham gave their survival hopes a huge boost with victory over Birmingham City in their last outing, with that important win at Upton Park lifting West Ham out of the bottom three all the way up into 14th position. However, while that sounds great, there is just a point separating them from Burnley in 18th and defeat on Saturday would leave them vulnerable for a big slide back down the table. However, not only have they been blessed with another home fixture but it’s also against one of the poorest teams in the Premiership in Hull City, so West Ham stand a very good chance of making it two from two, what would be their first back-to-back league wins of the season. 

Goals from Diamanti, a stunningly precise free-kick, and Carlton Cole sealed a vital win over a tough opponent in Birmingham City, although it was a much needed win as West Ham hadn’t won a league game in their previous five attempts. Upton Park has been the revival setting for The Hammers of late, with Gianfranco Zola’s men going unbeaten in their last four league games at home, even managing a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at the very beginning of this run. Wins, though, have been few and far between, but this does look one of their more easier remaining assignments and it’s one they cannot afford to fail in.  

West Ham should be too strong for a weak Hull City, especially now Carlton Cole is back in the Hammers fray after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He marked his return with a goal against Birmingham and looks a certainty to start on Saturday as he aims to bolster his more than reasonable goal tally of eight goals in fifteen league starts. With Benni McCarthy and Franco both doubts head of the weekends game, Cole will be expected once again to grab the match winning goals as he aims to nail down a starting berth in the West Ham starting eleven, although we think he’s a certain to be a permanent starter regardless.

It’s important West Ham build up a decent run of form in the run up to the end of the season and they have the perfect opportunity to do just that with the visit of Hull on Saturday. A win would hand them just their first back-to-back league wins of the season, which doesn’t sound at all good when you think about it, but it would greatly enhance the confidence of the players and allow them to put a few points between them and the stragglers at the foot of the table. If they play with the same effort and endeavour like they did against Birmingham City then they should have no problems. However, West Ham have been prone to non-existent displays this season and we just hope it’s a case of the former and not the latter.

Hull City

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: LDDWL

Phil Brown takes his Tigers to London this week as Hull City prepare for their away clash with West Ham United. The Hammers are a team in close proximity to Hull City near the foot of the table which makes winning on Saturday doubly important, perhaps even a six-pointer encounter. A win for Hull would even see the them storm three points clear of their relegation and match day rivals, although, a bitter defeat at Upton Park could be costly as it could end with Hull spending the rest of the week in the bottom three.

This is a relegation six-pointer for Phil Brown & Hull City as it’s one of a few away games left where getting a result isn’t exactly out of the question. It will be a stiff ask considering West ham registered a vital win in their last league outing but it’s certainly do-able, although it will require plenty of hard work and commitment from the Tigers. Hull have shown plenty of that of late, a little too much some would say judging by their last league encounter away at Blackburn where they were reduced to 10 men early on when Boatang was sent off for a flailing elbow. It was a decision which later cost Hull any chance in the game as Hull soon became overpowered and very defence minded. However, before the Blackburn defeat Hull were on a three match unbeaten run after two draws and a win. Not the biggest of streaks for some but it’s huge for a small club like Hull who will do well to get their hands on any points in just about every remaining fixture between now and the end of the season.  

Phil Brown doesn’t have bags of quality in his corner but he does have plenty of hard-working individuals who have proven in recent games alone that they are up for the fight and that they can actually compete with the better teams on their day. Since the end of January, Hull have picked up some creditable results; drawing at home to Chelsea (1-1) and then beating Man City (2-1). Of course, both did come at The KC, home of Phil Brown’s Tigers, but they were colossal results for a team which looked doomed around Christmas team but has since risen from the dead to march out of the relegation zone.

However, their away form has been their Achilles heel, with Hull having every chance of going the entire season without an away win after playing thirteen away games without winning.They’ve also lost back-to-back away games after defeats at Manchester United & Blackburn Rovers and haven’t scored an away goal in roughly 230 minutes of away action. Moreover, their blunt attacking line, one which has failed to score in seven of it’s thirteen away fixtures thus far, has managed just seven away goals all season. Shall we collect our winning on West Ham now or later, the form man said.

Match Verdict: West Ham United to WIN – 1.83 Boylesports

It’s hard to oppose West Ham now that their attacking options have been bolstered with some new, bright faces. Ilan made an instant impact when he scored at Burnley, albeit in vein, while Cole’s return brought about his first goal in nearly three months and the confidence in the West Ham camp should be sky0high after their sublime effort at home to Birmingham in their last match. Hull have shown great character in their recent games, arguably a lot more than West Ham have displayed, but their away record this season is extremely poor and it’s difficult to predict where their goals will come from. We feel one goal just might be enough to see off a weak Hull City and perhaps a tidy to NIL victory, one which would take them further up the table, could be on the cards.

Match Odds:

West Ham United – 1.83 Boylesports

Draw – 3.50 Bet365

Hull City – 4.80 Bet365

SoccerBetting Value Tip: West Ham to score 3 goals or more – 3/1 PaddyPower