Sunderland manager David Moyes has identified the main threat facing his side against West Ham United this weekend.
Premier League strugglers Sunderland host West Ham United this weekend in desperate need of maximum points.
The Black Cats sit rock bottom of the Premier League – currently 10 points from safety – and have not registered a single league goal since their 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace back in the first week of February.
However, manager David Moyes has told Sky Sports that he remains upbeat – as the former Manchester United and Everton boss gave his take on Sunderland’s prospects of ending such a barren run of form when his side meet the Hammers on Saturday afternoon.
Moyes, when speaking of his side’s likelihood of overcoming West Ham this weekend, stated: “We [Sunderland] have a good chance of winning. We have to try and cause them [West Ham] problems. They had a big result last week, we need one this week.”
Despite Moyes’ admirable sense of optimism, the 53-year-old boss emphasised the task at hand in stopping the Hammers’ danger man and primary concern for his team – forward Andy Carroll.
‘It’ll be a team effort to stop Carroll,” said Moyes. “We need to stop the deliveries he’ll thrive on and when they do come in make it difficult.’
Carroll, West Ham’s most prolific goal-getter, is expected to spearhead Slaven Bilic’s attack at the Stadium of Light – buoyed by their victory over Swansea City last time out; a result that should see the Hammers safe from any end-of-season relegation quagmire.
The nine-capped England international striker has scored seven Premier League goals for West Ham this term – but the 28-year-old has only featured in 17 top flight matches in 2016-17.
As indicated by the BBC, Carroll’s scoring rate of a goal every 175 minutes played is by far the most prolific for any of the Hammers’ first team regulars – with Michail Antonio closest to the striker with a goal every 271 minutes.
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