This is a must-win game for the Hammers as they continue to adapt to life in the London Stadium.
West Ham United’s Michail Antonio celebrates scoring their first goal
It’s fair to say that the natives are growing restless in East London. The pre-season optimism brought about by the exciting football played in the last campaign, the proven players signed by the club and the grand new stadium has been replaced by a growing sense of unease about the situation on and off the pitch.
The players look shadows of those who performed so admirably in 2015/16, the atmosphere at the new ground lacks the intimidation and intimacy of Upton Park and the Hammers go into October sitting in the bottom three with a record of one win and five defeats from their opening six fixtures.
Middlesbrough’s Ben Gibson celebrates after the game
Welcoming newly promoted opponents without a win in four games themselves could be just the tonic that the hosts need. Middlesbrough looked solid in their opening fixtures but have been less impressive in recent weeks, with last weekend’s home defeat to Tottenham following a 3-1 reverse at Goodison Park.
Admittedly it is harsh to judge a newly promoted side on games against Spurs and Everton, and Boro will travel to the capital knowing that an early goal – or simply keeping the game goalless – will frustrate the home crowd on what could turn out to be an nervy afternoon.
It is an intriguing clash, and these three individual battles will be crucial.
Michail Antonio vs George Friend
Antonio has been the major positive in West Ham’s disappointing campaign so far, finding the net five times to join Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero at the top of the Premier League scoring charts. Slaven Bilic looks to have finally put the idea of playing the former Nottingham Forest man at right-back to bed, so Antonio can now focus on terrorising opposition full-backs for the Hammers.
West Ham United’s Michail Antonio celebrates scoring their first goal with Dimitri Payet and Winston Reid
The latest to come up against the prolific winger is Middlesbrough skipper George Friend, who had a torrid time against Wilfried Zaha in Boro’s recent defeat to Crystal Palace and could be in for a difficult afternoon. The 28-year-old has settled in well enough to life in the top division and looks comfortable going forward, but facing one of the division’s in-form wingers is a tough ask for a player still learning his trade at this level.
Winston Reid vs Alvaro Negredo
No side has conceded more goals in the Premier League this season than West Ham, who have shipped 14 in the last four games and 16 overall. The Hammers even managed to concede four to a team managed by Tony Pulis, which tells a story in itself.
Winston Reid has established a reputation as a solid centre-half since arriving in England, but he has been off-colour this season and needs to up his game if his side are to turn their form around. With over 150 Premier League games behind him he has the experience, and will relish the physical battle that Alvaro Negredo will provide him with this weekend.
Middlesbrough’s Alvaro Negredo celebrates scoring their first goal
Negredo was regarded as somewhat of a coup when he arrived on Teesside and scored on his debut, but the Spaniard hasn’t found the net since. The former Manchester City man will need to rediscover his scoring touch if Boro are to get back on the winning trail, and what better way to do that than facing the league’s leakiest defence.
Simone Zaza vs Ben Gibson
The Italian striker has had a rough start to life in the Premier League, and has been on the receiving end of harsh words from Ian Wright and Chris Sutton in the past week. He was poor against Southampton, but Zaza is not being provided with much in the way of service from a team playing very short of confidence.
West Ham United’s Simone Zaza with Martin Atkinson
Ben Gibson has coped well with the step up from the Championship, and scored his first top flight goal in the defeat to Tottenham last weekend. There have even been whispers that Gibson could earn a call-up to the England squad; it may well be too soon for such talk, but if he keeps putting in consistent performances for Boro then he won’t be far away, particularly with a former Middlesbrough centre-half now managing the national side.
Prediction: West Ham 1-1 Middlesbrough
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