Slaven Bilic must once again make changes to his West Ham United side for the visit of rock bottom Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.
West Ham United’s Manuel Lanzini celebrates scoring the winner at Palace
West Ham United won on their travels to London rivals Crystal Palace for the third consecutive season when Manuel Lanzini‘s strike secured a 1-0 victory at the weekend.
It was only West Ham’s second win of the season and a vital one too as it lifted Slaven Bilic’s side out of the relegation zone and eased the pressure on him and his team after their worst start to a Premier League season
Bilic has been a man under pressure but the morale-boosting victory has breathed new life and renewed hope into the club’s faltering season.
Sunderland manager David Moyes
Meanwhile, it has been the same old story for Sunderland this season under new boss David Moyes with another relegation battle looming large.
Rock bottom and without a win from their opening eight games, the Black Cats were soundly beaten 2-0 by Stoke City last time out.
Bilic was widely praised by fans and pundits alike for changing West Ham’s formation to a 5-4-1 with Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell providing the width and Cheikhou Kouyate the extra security at the back.
West Ham United’s Aaron Cresswell is shown a red card by referee Martin Atkinson
Cresswell’s sending off at Selhurst Park severely disrupts the team yet again, though, just when the East Londoners looked to have found a solution to their problems.
Therefore the former Croatia boss must make a number to changes to mitigate Cresswell’s absence and take into account the fact the team is playing at home.
Christmas (tree) has come early
With Cresswell’s back-up Arthur Masuaku not available until November through injury and Sam Byram and Alvaro Arbeloa also out, it leaves Bilic no option but to revert back to a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation and play Angelo Ogbonna at left-back.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
Many fans feel young Reece Oxford should be brought into the side now but Bilic will more than likely bring in the tried and trusted James Collins at centre back to partner Winston Reid while Ogbonna shifts over.
That would see Kouyate move back into midfield alongside the impressive Pedro Obiang and skipper Mark Noble.
Ahead of them Dimitri Payet and Lanzini will play either side behind the lone striker Simone Zaza.
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