Ex-West Ham United striker Tony Cottee believes that the Hammers will resume Premier League duties with a comfortable win at home to Crystal Palace.
Writing in his column for London 24, Tony Cottee has backed his former club West Ham United to continue their pursuit of Champions League qualification with a 2-0 win at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Upton Park plays host to as both London outfits square off, but fortunes this calendar year could not be more different for the capital clubs.
Palace travel to the East end looking to pick up their first Premier League victory in 2016, with their last win coming way back on December 19, while three points for Slaven Bilic and co could potentially see the Irons move into the top four.
Brushing shoulders with European giants next season would have been nigh-on unthinkable for Hammers fans in August, but Cottee warns that the dream is unlikely to become reality unless they win games like the one they have on Saturday.
“But back to the Palace game and it is difficult to know how the week off will affect the team who have been playing so well lately,” he wrote in London 24.
“We did not have too many players away for the internationals and we have the added bonus of James Tomkins and James Collins having a run out on Monday which will help. Palace are battling for their lives, but I really fancy us to win the game on Saturday.
“We still have a great chance of getting into the Champions League spots this season, but if you have those sort of ambitions, it is games like these that you really have to win. I’m going for a 2-0 victory. COYI!”
It remains to be seen if the international break has done anything to the Irons’ momentum, though there were signs of slowing down before the interval following draws at Chelsea and Manchester United – excellent results, but Bilic’s men had been on the brink of victory in both games.
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