West Ham United entertain Crystal Palace in a crucial clash on Saturday and Iain Dowie, a man with links to both clubs, has delivered his prediction.
The Hammers endured a torrid first half of the season, going out of the Europa League, the EFL Cup and then the FA Cup last time out off the back of a demoralising 5-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Slaven Bilic’s second season in charge since taking over from new Eagles boss Sam Allardyce has been a far cry from his record-breaking first with the East Londoners sat in 13th place in the table at the halfway stage.
West Ham have – for whatever reason – struggled to adapt to life at their new Olympic Stadium home and go into the game off the back of three straight defeats in all competitions.
Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce
Palace meanwhile are just one place and one point above the bottom three and are yet to win under Allardyce, who will be desperate to get one over on his former club and close the gap between the two teams to just three points.
Speaking on talkSPORT, former Hammers cult hero Dowie – who also played for and managed Palace – has delivered something of a worrying prediction for Bilic ahead of the match.
“When I look at Palace I think it’s tailor made for Sam to make the turnaround,” Dowie told Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast.
“They’ve got good players in lots of positions, really you think if they can keep a clean sheet then they’re certain to score a goal.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic looks dejected
“That is a huge game. It’s a battle of wills, could that be the catalyst game for Big Sam and Palace to kick on?
“My view is I think Palace have got to sneak it, and it hurts me to say that as a West Ham fan, but I think Palace have got some armaments that can hurt West Ham.
“They (West Ham) need a lot more from a lot of the players, the likes of Payet, they need some big performances the West Ham players, no doubt.
“I feel for Slaven because I think he’s a proper lad and a proper manager, he just needs a few players to step up to the mark.”
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