Mark Lawrenson predicts Stoke City v West Ham United outcome

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Stoke City host West Ham United in the Premier League this afternoon.

General view inside the Bet365 Stadium

Pundit Mark Lawrenson has told BBC Sport that he thinks West Ham United will pick up a 1-1 draw at Stoke City this afternoon.

Hosts Stoke head into the game in dire form, having lost 1-0 at Burnley on Wednesday night, just days after being thrashed 5-1 at Tottenham Hotspur.

Mark Hughes is under pressure after just one win in the last seven games, and with Stoke lying just two points above the relegation zone, the Potters desperately need results.

Mark Hughes and David Moyes

They will have another chance at three points today, as they host West Ham United at the Bet365 Stadium, with the Hammers entering in buoyant mood.

West Ham beat Chelsea 1-0 at the London Stadium last weekend to pick up a first win under David Moyes, before drawing 0-0 with Arsenal on Wednesday night.

With four points taken from two tough games against London rivals, West Ham are a little more positive right now – despite the fact that they still sit 19^th in the Premier League table.

Ahead of the game, pundit Mark Lawrenson has admitted that he is impressed with how West Ham have performed in recent weeks, whilst also feeling that Stoke boss Hughes is under the most pressure he’s faced since taking the job in 2013.

Lawrenson, speaking to BBC Sport, added that his prediction for the game is a 1-1 draw, feeling that Stoke will get something if they replicate their performance from the defeat at Burnley just days ago.

“West Ham have started to pick up some points – and to follow their narrow defeat at Manchester City with a win over Chelsea and a draw with Arsenal has produced some positivity around the place,” said Lawrenson.

“After four defeats in their past five games, Stoke do not have much of a feel-good factor at the moment and Potters boss Mark Hughes is probably under more pressure than he has ever been since he has been there. But the Potters’ performance in their 1-0 defeat against Burnley on Tuesday was much better than the result. If they play like that again, they should get something to show for it,” he added.