When the games start coming thick and fast in the Premier League, then you know December is around and winter is coming. The Hammers host the Bluebirds at the London Stadium in one of four Premier League fixtures on Tuesday night in a Premier League match day 15 duel. Both West Ham and Cardiff are heading into this fixture off the back of wins at the weekend over Newcastle and Wolves respectively.
West Ham are yet to put together a considerable run in the league so far and have alternated between draws, losses and wins in their last 6 games in all competitions. That kind of inconsistency has resulted in a failure to register back-to-back wins so far in the league and only 2 wins in over 2 months of league football.
The Hammers bounced back from a 0-4 mauling from the Champions in their last home game to produce an efficient counter attacking performance against the Magpies on Saturday. The Irons scored from 3 of their 4 shots on target with Mexican Javier Hernandez scoring his 3rd and 4th goals of the season in West Ham’s first 2 goals while Felipe Anderson secured the victory with a late strike to register his fifth of the campaign.
West Ham have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 4 at home all season with 2 of those losses coming in the last 3 at home to Tottenham and Manchester City. In those 7 home games, West Ham have conceded 11 and scored 8.
Cardiff swam in relegation waters for much of the season and were having a campaign to forget until two wins in their last 3 games. Prior to that, the Bluebirds had 2 draws and a win in 11 games in the league. Neil Warnock will point to those 6 points from a possible 9 as a resurgence of sorts. Cardiff are 16th on 11 points and are yet to keep a clean sheet in the previous 12 games. The Bluebirds have won 3 of their last 4 at home but have only picked up a point in their last 6 away games, though Cardiff lovers may argue those 6 games were tough trips to Everton, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea. Neil Warnock will hope this is the game his troops begin to show the same resilience they have mostly displayed at the Principality, away from home.
That kind of resilience was on full display on Friday when the Bluebirds fought back from a goal down to defeat fellow promoted side, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 in an exciting contest. The clear problem for Neil Warnock side is their defensive game which has seen them concede 27 goals from the 14 played in the league. Burnley and Fulham, the bottom two teams are the only sides to have conceded more goals in the league.
Team News
Ryan Fredericks, Andriy Yarmolenko, Winstein Reid, Carlos Sanchez and Manuel Lanzini have all been ruled out for West Ham while Aaron Creswell who took a knock in the 3-0 win over Newcastle is a major doubt. Arthur Masuaku may come in for him at left back. Jack Wilshere is back from injury and along with Pedro Obiang and Grady Diangana, Manuel Pellegrini has a few options to rotate his side if he so chooses.
Kenneth Zohore is the only injury worry for Neil Warnock who may yet field the same side that won 2-1 against Wolves on Friday.
Verdict
History favours West Ham who have won the last 6 games against Cardiff in all competitions. The Bluebirds are also a poor travelling team while West Ham will see a genuine opportunity to record their first back-to-back wins in the league. West Ham are expected to win this game.
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