‘Something’s happened’: Trevor Sinclair explains why West Ham can beat Manchester City

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Trevor Sinclair is backing West Ham United to cause a shock against Manchester City on Saturday, and paid tribute to Aaron Cresswell’s form, while speaking to Alan Brazil on talkSPORT (23 October, 9.20am).

The Hammers’ recent record against the four-time Premier League champions does not exactly make for good reading.

City have been victorious in each of the last nine meetings between the two sides, scoring 34 times and conceding just four in that run.

But, if West Ham are ever going to claim a measure of revenge over Pep Guardiola’s side, it is now.

With the 4-0 and 3-0 thrashings of Wolves and Leicester fresh in the memory, David Moyes’s side maintained their excellent recent form with a stunning comeback in Sunday’s 3-3 draw with bitter rivals Tottenham.

Sinclair believes the confidence that Manuel Lanzini’s last-gasp, 35-yard equaliser will have given the West Ham dressing room could make a huge difference when City come to town.

“As a West Ham fan you look at his fixture and think ‘it’s gone’. But something has happened at West Ham,” said the former England international, who played for both clubs during a storied career.

“Playing three at the back – (Vladimir) Coufal has come in and done a superb job – the balance looks superb. This could be a surprise. If I was going with my heart I’d love Man City to win because they were the team I supported as a kid.

“But, going with my head, the Lanzini goal and the spirit that must have brought the players together so much, I think West Ham can get something out of this game.”

Sinclair believes Moyes’s three-man backline has made a positive difference to the balance of the West Ham side, hailing left-back Aaron Cresswell for adapting brilliantly to a new-look central role.

“David Moyes has done a superb job, the way he’s changed the formation. Would you have said at the start of the season that Cresswell would be a great left-sided defender? I wouldn’t,” Sinclair added.

“He’s gone in there and he looks so composed.”