West Ham Graham Potter
(Credit: Imago)
Carla Devine
Sun 18 May 2025 13:12, UK
West Ham United face Nottingham Forest in their final home game of the season on Sunday.
Although West Ham supporters haven’t had much to cheer about of late, a 2-0 victory away at Manchester United last time out gives Graham Potter’s men some momentum going into the game.
However, with Nottingham Forest trying to keep their Champions League dreams alive, Nuno Espirito Santo’s men will be on a mission to pick up all three points.
West Ham manager Graham Potter
Potter will be hoping for another three points. (Credit: Imago)
Potter makes West Ham team news blunder
Potter hasn’t had the easiest of starts to life at the London Stadium, but picking up three points last time out served as a reminder that there could be more to come.
Although their opponents were not at the top of their game, it was a solid defensive performance from the Irons, which could be built upon going forward.
Team Possession Shots Shots on target
Manchester United 53% 20 5
West Ham 47% 9 4
Manchester United v West Ham statistics.
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Goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen proved to be the difference, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka putting in another strong performance against his former side.
After the victory against the Red Devils, Potter has decided to name an unchanged starting line-up, as he seeks to pick up a second consecutive victory.
However, choosing to play 32-year-old Alphonse Areola over Lukasz Fabianski is a bit of a blunder from the boss, with this being Fabianski’s last chance to say goodbye to the West Ham supporters on home turf before his exit at the end of the campaign.
Although the 40-year-old has seen his game time decrease this term, the goalkeeper has made 13 Premier League appearances and, having been a servant for the club, he certainly deserves a send-off from the home supporters in what is a dead-rubber for the Irons.
Potter ready for the transfer window
Given the way the season has gone for West Ham, there is pressure on Potter to get things right in the summer transfer window and bring the right additions into the squad, one of which will be a new goalkeeper.
With his predecessor Julen Lopetegui having had backing last summer, resources during the winter transfer window were limited, but David Sullivan has to be ready to show his support now.
There are plenty of areas on the pitch that need reinforcements, although Potter will have to prioritise to ensure resources aren’t spread too thin.
With the announcement of a number of exits from West Ham at the end of the campaign already, though, it should reassure supporters that plans are already being put in place.
A game against Forest, who have something to fight for, is no easy task, but Potter will be eager for his side to end their home season on a high.
The final game of the season will then await at Portman Road, and hopefully Fabianski will be given the opportunity to appear in West Ham colours one last time.
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