Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
It’s always fascinating when a Championship and a Premier League team get to go head-to-head in the FA Cup. Not only is there often an element of surprise, but lesser tested dynamics can often produce fireworks. This is especially the case when you have a team like West Brom, who are currently at the top of the Championship and are looking to a future against such opponents.
West Ham will also be extra motivated, not only by the FA Cup but to reaffirm their position as a top tier side, as they stare down the pit of potential relegation in the 17th position. It’s very possible that these two could have swapped places by next season, and each will see the FA Cup as a platform to prove where they belong.
West Ham United vs West Brom Prediction: West Ham 2-1 West Brom
This all sounds very positive for West Brom and were circumstances different, we might be going against the bookmakers and predicting a win for them. However, the last few weeks have been far from their best. Outside of their 1-0 victory over Chalton to make it to this match, it’s been seven games since their last victory. That slide in quality is just about enough to make a West Ham win seem more likely. With that said, the Hammers have hardly been setting the world on fire lately either, with a 4-0 win over Bournemouth being the last time we saw them live up to their potential. Therefore, our scoreline prediction is 2-1 to West Ham.
Our recommended tip: West Ham win both halves
We think a lot of people are underestimating just how important this match is to West Ham from a psychological perspective. There’s a good chance they will go in hard early, meaning that a lead by half time is a serious possibility. West Brom may very well have a reply, but West Ham have it in them to bring it back once more, or even push further with a goal in the second half. These scenarios are likely enough to get a high-risk recommended tip from us, with a bet on West Ham to win both halves getting 4/1 odds from BetFred.
Previous matches
As West Brom were only relegated a couple of years ago, there’s a huge amount of matches between these two, both from the FA Cup and the Premier League. Just like you may expect, the results are very competitive. In fact, the last eight matches in this fixture saw West Brom and West Ham win two apiece, with all others resulting in a draw. Significantly, their last meeting in 2018 ended in exactly the scoreline we are predicting here. They’re neck-and-neck for the most part – although interestingly, the last FA Cup match did see West Brom dominate with a 4-0 result in 2015. They’ll no doubt be hoping for history to repeat itself here.
Top 3 FA Cup Bookies
Players to watch: Sébastien Haller & Charlie Austin
West Ham United: Sébastien Haller
There are quite a few ways in which West Ham and West Brom’s paths in recent weeks has been similar. Each has a top goalscorer who has failed to deliver in several games, and the last time they scored also marked the beginning of their decline. In the case of Sébastien Haller, we last saw him truly on form in that awesome victory over Bournemouth, but his brilliance has been absent since. Fans will be hoping for its return here.
West Brom: Charlie Austin
In a very similar story, Charlie Austin last scored in a fabulous 3-2 victory over Birmingham and since then, he’s not only been goalless but has seen the decline of his team performance-wise over that period. It’s worth pointing out that many of these games were draws, and his failure to be the difference maker has had a huge impact. He’s our player to watch because the result may rest on whether Austin can come through with the goods.
