West Ham’s trip to Tottenham is an absolutely huge game for several reasons.
Really, the main point of focus has to be on West Ham’s perilous position in the Premier League table.
Still, it’s obviously difficult to look at any game between the two clubs away from the context that they are huge rivals.
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Throw in the fact that both managers are under pressure, as well as the fact that Nuno Espirito Santo used to coach Spurs, and it looks even more interesting.
It’s a fascinating game and one dripping with narrative and Chris Sutton believes the Hammers will be on the losing side.
Chris Sutton predicts Tottenham to beat West Ham
Interestingly, Sutton recently made a comment about West Ham fans.
When predicting the Irons to beat QPR in the FA Cup ahead of Sunday’s victory, Sutton suggested that Nuno’s side didn’t really have a home advantage because of how much West Ham fans dislike life at the London Stadium.
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After Sutton’s previous comments about West Ham fans, he once again referenced those issues with the stadium before predicting them to lose on Saturday despite it being played at Spurs.
In his BBC Sport column, the former England striker wrote: “Tottenham’s home form is miserable, with two wins in 10 league games, and there is so much angst amongst their fans at the moment.
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“Similarly, West Ham’s players are probably better off away from home right now because of the animosity from their supporters inside their own stadium, but their away record is just as atrocious with only one win in 10.
“This is one of those games where I like to wheel out one of my favourite sayings in football – these two teams have been so bad recently that they both could lose.
“It’s certainly hard to make a case for either of them to win it. I am going to go with Spurs, because new signing Conor Gallagher has plenty of energy and will add some thrust and drive to their midfield.
“But it’s a lot easier to predict that it will be a dismal game, with Tottenham booed off after a bang-average performance that means Thomas Frank is still under pressure despite winning.
“As for Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo, he is just going to be in even greater danger of getting the sack.
“Sutton’s prediction: 1-0.”
Nuno’s verdict on Tottenham as strange quirk of the season continues
This will be the third consecutive Premier League game in which Nuno has come up against one of his former clubs.
Sadly for West Ham, they’ve lost the last two. Nuno tasted defeat at the hands of Wolves and Nottingham Forest earlier this month and will hope that it’s a case of third time lucky on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of a return to his former employers, Nuno said of Spurs: “It’s a good team. They have talented players, and it’s always a tough place to go. It’s a rival as well, so it’s a London derby.
“The fans expect us to put up a good fight, then we will see.”