Written by @deportivohammer

Well, that was a welcome win against Cheltenham. It may have been against lower league opposition, but getting two goals and more importantly a clean sheet. Will give our players a quiet reminder of what winning is like.  Hopefully they will like the feeling so much that they keep it going through the weekend.

Losing 3-2 against Southampton was a bitter pill to swallow especially after getting back to 2-2.  But I did love the man of the moment Hernandez getting off the mark with 2 very well taken goals.  Lets hope he gets many more.  Also as much as I´m not totally sold on the man, Sakho getting a goal also gives us options up front.

This weekend we travel up to Newcastle who are having as hard a start of the season as we are.  While there is also a lot of uncertainty surrounding their manager.  I feel they will be mad to let him go as I don´t see much other quality in their squad.  Losing away to Tottenham and then at Home to Huddersfield  gives me confidence to go there and get our first 3 points of the season.

It was great to see Antonio back for the game against Southampton and hopefully he can stay fit for much of the season.  With the welcome return of Lanzini, Kouyate and Carroll it´s a great relief to talk just of injury to Reid at the moment.  Kouyate managed a breif cameo mid week and should be available for selection.

Newcastle will obviously be missing the suspended local boy Jonjo Shelvey and injured  Yedlin while Gayle and Lejeune are slight doubts for the game.

Predicted teams

Newcastle United : Elliot, Manquillo, Lascelles, Clark, Mbemba, Merino, Hayden, Atsu, Ritchie, Perez, Gayle,

West Ham United : Hart, Zabaleta, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble, Obiang, Rice, Antonio, Ayew, Hernandez

I don´t think Slav will use Lanzini from the beginning of this game.  He will look to bring him on in the last 15 mins or so.  Hopefully we will be 2 up by then.  The return of Collins at the back should help keep a toothless Newcastle front line goalless and I will predict a comfortable 2 – 0 away win for the Hammers and our season gets going.