Graham Potter is “actually excited” by the prospect of seeing a refreshed West Ham aspect in motion in opposition to Brentford on Saturday.
This has been a depressing marketing campaign for West Ham, with Julen Lopetegui shortly changed as boss because the group languished within the backside half of the Premier League desk.
Though Potter’s appointment in his place has given the Hammers a raise, they’ve continued to be hampered by harm points.
A 13-day hole between matches has offered West Ham with a chance to reset, nonetheless, having final performed away to Chelsea previous to the fourth spherical of the FA Cup.
Potter is definitely feeling optimistic, saying forward of the house match in opposition to Brentford: “We’ve tried to make use of the time we’ve had [since Chelsea] in addition to potential.
“The gamers have educated effectively, and we’ve used the chance to get the injured gamers again as effectively. So, it’s been a mixture of some issues, in addition to the restoration of the gamers who’ve been taking part in.
“We’ll go into the final 14 video games of the season with a little bit of freshness now. That’s one thing we’re actually enthusiastic about.
“We’re going to attempt to choose up as many factors as we are able to, beginning at residence in opposition to Brentford on Saturday.”
We host the Bees at London Stadium on Saturday pic.twitter.com/lZEcAsSiLe
— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 13, 2025
Accidents have left West Ham significantly brief in assault, which means the mortgage signing of Evan Ferguson, who Potter labored with at Brighton and Hove Albion, comes as a lift.
“He’s educated effectively since he’s are available in, and he’s definitely confirmed his high quality,” Potter mentioned of the striker.
“The state of affairs with Evan is that he hasn’t performed that a lot soccer just lately, so we’ve to be a bit cautious with what number of minutes he performs and whether or not he begins.
“However he’s been nice, and I feel he’s solely going to get stronger and higher in the course of the time he’s right here with us.
“He’s prepared to assist the group, and we’ll make the choice about his involvement as we get nearer to the sport.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
West Ham – Jarrod Bowen
With Ferguson nonetheless getting up to the mark, Bowen is more likely to lead the road from the beginning once more, having returned from harm in opposition to Chelsea.
Bowen is West Ham’s second-highest goalscorer within the Premier League and only one objective shy of fifty. He has scored 5 instances in opposition to Brentford within the competitors, solely netting extra in opposition to Wolves (six).
Brentford – Mikkel Damsgaard
Damsgaard has been named Brentford’s participant of the month for every of the previous 4 months, so it ought to come as no shock that the numbers present he’ll present a giant risk to West Ham.
The Denmark worldwide is the one Premier League participant to tally 5 or extra assists (eight), 40 or extra possibilities created (41), 150 or extra move makes an attempt into the ultimate third (152), 50 or extra tackles (55) and 100 or extra duels gained (117) this season.
4-in-a-row for Mikkel pic.twitter.com/2sUTL3x3sf
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) February 6, 2025
MATCH PREDICTION – DRAW
West Ham and Brentford are every averaging precisely 1.0 factors per recreation in London derbies because the begin of final season, so a draw would preserve these respective data.
Brentford will head to West Ham in assured temper having gained their previous two away video games after successful none of their first 9 this season, however the Bees have by no means gained three in a row on the highway within the high flight.
West Ham are additionally unbeaten of their earlier two Premier League conferences with Brentford, having misplaced every of the primary 5.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
West Ham – 40.5%
Brentford – 34.4%
Draw – 25.1%