Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
West Ham travel to Stoke this Afternoon with Europe very much on their minds. They could finish anywhere between 5th and 8th depending on results but Slaven Bilic will know that with his side just one game away from the Europa League they won’t want to fall down at the final hurdle.
Hosts Stoke’s season has all but fizzled out since the injury to Jack Butland. They have only picked up 2 points from their last 6 matches and with that their own hopes of European Football next season have evaporated. The only thing they have to play for Today is securing a Top 10 finish with Swansea primed to overtake them if they lose Today
Last time out they lost to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. They haven’t fared well against Alan Pardew’s side with Palace doing the double and earning two out of their three wins since December 19th against Mark Hughes’s side. The Welshman will hope his side have better luck against London opposition this Afternoon.
As for West Ham they ended their tenure at Upton Park in perfect fashion on Tuesday night. They came from behind to beat Manchester United 3-2 and in turn hamper Louis Van Gaal’s sides chances of a Top 4 finish. But after that result how much will Slaven Bilic rue the defeat to Swansea just 3 days previous.
They lost 3-1 at home to the South Wales side that Afternoon. Had they won that game they would have point joint on points with Manchester City going into the final day. That was their first defeat in 10 matches and one that killed off their hopes of their own incredible Top 4 finish
But that defeat certainly shouldn’t detract from a very impressive season for Slaven Bilic and West Ham, they now just have to make sure all that hard work isn’t undone by slipping up at The Britannia. The higher they can finish up the table then they less reliant they are on the outcomes of the F.A. Cup and Europa League Finals.
I don’t think they will have to worry about those as I can see them running out comfortable winners and securing 6th place at least and what should bring a Europa League spot for their new Olympic Stadium home which in all fairness will be nothing short of deserved after such a strong season. An away win for me.
Papa Johns – If your team scores twice then it’s half price
