Mark Lawrenson believes West Ham United “badly need to win” against Newcastle United this weekend.
The Hammers have been disappointing in the Premier League so far this season with just five wins from 20 games, sitting 16th in the table just one point above the relegation zone.
Three crucial points picked up in their last league game against relegation rivals Everton, their first Premier League victory after a seven game winless run, lifted David Moyes’ side out of the drop zone.
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But West Ham face a tough run of fixtures in February, with three of their four opponents currently sitting in the top-half of the Premier League table, starting with Newcastle this Saturday evening at St James’ Park.
The Magpies are flying high this season in third with just one league defeat in their 20 matches and they also have a trip to Wembley booked in later this month after reaching the Carabao Cup Final, where they will face Manchester United.
Eddie Howe’s side defeated Southampton 2-1 (3-1 on aggregate) in midweek to reach the final but former Liverpool defender Lawrenson believes that may play into West Ham’s hands this weekend.
Predicting a 1-1 draw, Lawrenson told Paddy Power: “West Ham badly need to win and I just wonder with Newcastle whether they might have a little hangover from reaching the Carabao Cup final during the week.
“I’m sure they would have celebrated, you have to celebrate reaching a first cup final for ages! I know Eddie Howe’s got a big squad but I think this might be a draw.”
A draw would be enough to keep West Ham out of the relegation zone if Lawrenson’s predictions for the other Premier League fixtures this weekend come to fruition. He expects Southampton (20th), Everton (19th) and Bournemouth (18th) to lose against Brentford, Arsenal and Brighton respectively.
Lawrenson predicts a 1-1 draw between 17th placed Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool this Saturday, whilst tipping 15th placed Leeds United, currently level on points with West Ham, to build a three-point gap with a 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest. Lawro predicts Leicester City, also level on points with West Ham but 14th in the table due to goal difference, to play out a 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.
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