West Ham vs Leicester - Preview, Best Bets & H2H Record
- JN Value Betting
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
BEST BETS:
TOMAS SOUCEK - TO HAVE 1+ HEADED SHOT ON TARGET - 9/4 (PADDY POWER) - 1PT
TOMAS SOUCEK - TO SCORE A HEADER - 15/2 (PADDY POWER) - 0.5PTS
TOMAS SOUCEK - TO SCORE ANYTIME & JAMES WARD-PROWSE - TO ASSIST A GOAL - 16/1 (UNIBET) - 0.5PTS
A win at the Emirates on Saturday halted a four-game winless run for Graham Potter and his West Ham side. That victory has all but ended the title race, and alleviated any slight relegation fears that the Hammers' fans will have had. The same cannot be said for their opponents here, with Leicester becoming the first side in top flight history to lose six straight home matches without scoring a goal. The pressure has been heaped onto Ruud van Nistelrooy in recent weeks, along with Director of Football Jon Rudkin. Two of van Nistelrooy's coaching staff have departed this week, in the aftermath of the weekend defeat to Brentford, and that may just buy the Dutchman some further time to try and right the wrongs of his side.
The Achilles heel of Leicester in recent weeks has been their inability to win aerial duels, leading to the Foxes conceding a headed goal in five of their last six matches. The trip to a West Ham side who are renowned for their size will not be one that they're relishing. Given the weaknesses of Leicester, I am keen to get Tomas Soucek onside in this one. The Czech international has had 17 of his 43 shots this season with his head, and has been occupying a more advanced role in recent weeks due to the injuries to Lucas Paqueta, Crysencio Summerville and Niclas Fullkrug. He also occupied this role in the reverse fixture, having five shots - with two of these coming with his head. Soucek is averaging 1.90 shots per 90 this season, and given him likely lining up further forward, he should have at least one shot with his head. Two of Soucek's five goals this season have come with his head, and against a Leicester side with such defensive fragilities, I am happy to have a small punt on him to score a header at 15/2.
The arrival of Graham Potter has seen him recall James Ward-Prowse from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest, with him starting in the victory over Arsenal on Saturday - that should hopefully see him retain his place here. Ward-Prowse led the way in terms of assists for the Hammers last season with eleven. There were far more options from set-pieces in their side last season, with a lot of the aerial threat coming from Soucek this season. I was unable to find a price for Ward-Prowse to assist a goal for Soucek. However, there was 16/1 on offer for him to assist a goal and for Soucek to score, which gives us a slightly safer selection as well. Ward-Prowse assisted Soucek on two occasions last season as well.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
LAST 5 MATCHES:
03/12/2024 - LEICESTER 3-1 West Ham (Premier League)
28/05/2023 - LEICESTER 2-1 West Ham (Premier League)
12/11/2022 - West Ham 0-2 LEICESTER (Premier League)
13/02/2022 - Leicester 2-2 West Ham (Premier League)
23/08/2021 - WEST HAM 4-1 Leicester (Premier League)
