West Ham forward Diafra Sakho (Photo : Reuters)
West Ham United FC (1-1-0, 3 points) faces newly-promoted squad AFC Bournemouth (0-2-0, 0 points) as week 3 of the 2015-2016 English Premier League gets underway. The match is scheduled at the Irons' home stadium of Boleyn Ground on Saturday.
West Ham split its first two games of the season, beginning with a stunning 2-0 blanking of projected championship contender Arsenal FC in their opener at the Emirates Stadium.
However, they dropped their next game against an inspired Leicester City FC squad, 1-2, at home, via The Guardian.
Foxes forward Shinji Okazaki and midfielder Riyad Mahrez scored two first half goals to bury Slaven Bilić's boys early. Hammers midfielder Dimitri Payet converted one in the second half to put his team on the board.
Bournemouth is still winless after two weeks of EPL experience. They fell to Aston Villa, 0-1, in their opener, and was defeated again in their last game versus powerhouse club Liverpool FC, 0-1, as per NBC Sports' Pro Soccer Talk.
Eddie Howe's men showed that they can play defense, though. The only problem is their lack of firepower at the offensive end. If the Cherries would be able to get something out of their striking pair of Joshua King and Callum Wilson, then they can give the Irons a good fight.
Prediction: West Ham drops Bournemouth, 2-0. It may take a few more games before Bournemouth's offense finally pulls through.
West Ham starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Randolph; Ogbonna, Jenkinson, Reid, Cresswell; Oxford, Kouyaté, Noble; Payet, Sakho, Zárate
Bournemouth starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Boruc; Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Francis; Surman, Ritchie, O'Kane, Gradel; Wilson, King
