Nuno needs to choose his set up, come what may, to try and grab three points at Aston Villa. The [Hammers](https://www.claretandhugh.info/aston-villa-v-west-ham-preview-team-news-predicted-line-ups/) take on the fourth placed Birmingham – based side this afternoon knowing that a win would lift them out of the relegation zone whatever results elsewhere: Tottenham and Nottingham Forest play at the same time so whatever the outcome, events are still – albeit hanging by a thread- in West Ham’s own hands.
If ever there were a must win – today is it.
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Whether the Portuguese manager repeats his three centre back solidity set up for the first ’45 and then brings on Traore and Wilson in the second half – or whether he reverts to a back four will be the key decision. As a best guess seeing how Nuno has often taken the cautious approach we’d predict he will begin with the trio of centre backs in a kind of 3-5-2 formation:
West Ham United – predicted line up
**Hermansen | Wan Bissaka, Disasi, Todibo, Mavropanos, Diouf | Soucek, Fernandes, Pablo | Castellanos Bowen**
And then go more aggressive in the second half. Of course with no Summerville his options are limited, sadly.
Score predictions:
Gonzo 2-1 _West Ham away win_
Matt 1-1 _Draw – respect the point_
Martin 1-0 West Ham win.. “_one-nil to the cockney boys_”
Sean 0 -1 _West Ham win_