West Ham United vs. Watford: Preview and betting tips

The English Premier League is back in action and so is West Ham with three Czech players. The Hammers take on eighteenth-placed Watford, led by new coach Roy Hodgson, in the 24th round of the league.

West Ham had a good season and were on the ranks that ensure promotion to the Champions League, but recently left these positions and are in fifth place. They are a point behind fourth placed Manchester United and an abysmal 20 points behind first placed Manchester City.

The Hammers have won three of their last five league games and lost two. The last competitive match they played was in the FA Cup. Against Kidderminster from the sixth league they worked hard, scoring the decisive goal in the last minute of extra time.

Watford are in the eighteenth relegation place with 15 points, the same as nineteenth-placed Newcastle. They are one point behind the relegation zone as Norwich are ahead with 16 points. Watford have only drawn twice and lost three of their last five games.

The favourite for this match will be the home side West Ham. But interestingly, Watford are doing well at the home stadium of the Hammers. Of the last five games played in London, Watford have won four times and drawn once.

Both teams enter the game with completely different motivations. West Ham want to return to the top four in the league and also want to make amends for their FA Cup performance. Watford, on the other hand, have to fight to stay in the league.

In West Ham’s games, the goals have come in the latter stages of the games. This season in the Premier League they have scored 10 goals and received 9 after the 75th minute. In addition, West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen has only scored after the 80th minute in his last four home games.