'This is hard': Chris Sutton has now predicted who will win – West Ham or Ipswich Town
Today at 06:45 AM
West Ham face Ipswich this weekend in what could be a must-win match for Julen Lopetegui.
Just a few months into his West Ham tenure, Lopetegui is already under pressure in east London after a poor start to the season.
West Ham have only won one game so far this season, and it's fair to say they have been underwhelming after what was a promising transfer window.
Luckily, the Hammers have a very winnable game ahead of them this weekend as they face Ipswich Town.
The Tractor Boys are winless so far since their return to the Premier League, but they are on a mini unbeaten run having drawn their last four games.
Writing in his column for the BBC, Chris Sutton has been previewing this game, and he's tipped West Ham to come out victorious this weekend.
Chris Sutton thinks West Ham will beat Ipswich
Sutton shared his verdict on how this game will go.
"This is hard. I don't like to give credit to Ipswich if I can help it, but they have really impressed me," Sutton wrote.
"At this moment in time, they are a better structured team than West Ham. They showed it with the way they finished their draw with Aston Villa last week, and the only downside from the way they have started the season is the fact they don’t have a win yet.
"With the quality the Hammers have got, eventually it has to click for them, but it has not happened yet.
"As much as I hate to predict an Ipswich defeat, I am going to stick my neck out and say the Hammers will get their act together this time.
"Basically, I am backing them to produce a performance that they have not managed all season under Julen Lopetegui.
"They have to really. There was so much made of him taking over from David Moyes, that he really needs a result – West Ham fans are not always the most patient bunch, and they are expecting more than they have seen so far."
West Ham need to improve
West Ham are capable of winning this game, but they will need to improve to get a result here.
Ipswich have bloodied a few noses this season already, taking points off the likes of Aston Villa and Fulham, two teams that are currently in the top six.
Liam Delap is in fantastic form at the moment, and if the Hammers don't step up here, this could prove to be a banana skin and a potentially fatal one for Lopetegui after a slow start to his reign.
