Statistics have come increasingly used for player analytics, team performance and even recruitment of future talent. Some of the details on offer are mind boggling in their complexity – shot conversion ratios, goals per game – percentage win figures- for those of you with a passion for percentages the current figures are [West Ham](https://www.claretandhugh.info/summer-transfer-window-news-chaos-for-west-ham/) 31.5% chance of winning, Newcastle 42.4%. Which, considering the huge gap between the two sides in the Premier League, is closer than you might imagine.
However the stats that really make for grim reading from a West Ham point of view are simple:
**Callum Wilson** – 12 goals against West Ham in his last 15 appearances.
**Alexander Isak** – four goals in his last five appearances against the Hammers.
**Harvey Barnes** six goals in his last ten appearances against West Ham.
The fact that Anthony Gordon is suspended isn’t much help to West Ham: If Magpies’ manager Eddie Howe chooses a Joelinton-Joe Willock combination on the left-hand side, then history suggests there are goals galore there too: The pair have scored five against West Ham between them, with two of Joelinton’s three coming a 5-1 win at the London Stadium in April 2023, although that was pre-Wan Bissaka so we can but hope ‘the Spider’ is at his best.
Quite clearly the Hammers go into this game seeking a huge improvement on recent defensive performances against The Magpies. Graham Potter’s call will be to find the set up best able to nullify Newcastle’s goal threat whilst retaining an attacking capability.
The ‘flash in the pan’ 2-0 West Ham win at St James’s Park in December looks unlikely to be so easily repeated tonight. Admittedly there may be some Newcastle loss of focus as their Wembley final is on Sunday- however they are still in the mix for a Champions League spot and will be 100% committed to the win tonight.
Unlike playing other sides, however, there is no relief for stressed supporters or hard-worked defenders after an hour when the ‘main men’ are withdrawn. If anything, Seeing Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes warming up on the sidelines should be enough to send Hammers fans hiding behind the sofa in expectation of late goals.
Potter will need his own ‘defensive cavalry’ to rush to the aid of a tiring back line if the pace of Barnes suddenly appears at 75 minutes. West Ham’s preferred ‘three at the back and wingbacks’ defensive formation is going to get a rigorous examination tonight. I’m not a betting man but I suspect the Hammers’ chances of keeping a clean sheet would not make good odds today.