adminWest Ham United will be aiming to secure their first Championship victory of the season when they welcome Charlton Athletic to the London Stadium on Saturday.
The Hammers were left frustrated in their opening fixture after surrendering a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2 against fellow relegated side Burnley at Turf Moor. While a point away from home would normally be viewed positively, the way West Ham allowed the game to slip away is likely to have disappointed Nuno Espirito Santo.
Saturday’s clash with Charlton gives the Irons an immediate opportunity to respond and claim their first three points of the campaign against their fellow London club.
Charlton, however, will arrive in East London full of confidence after beginning their season with a 2-1 victory over Derby County.
Despite that result, the supercomputer heavily favours West Ham to come out on top.
What are West Ham’s chances of beating Charlton?
Nuno Espirito Santo has several important selection decisions to make, with a number of new signings potentially in line to make their debuts.
Regardless of the starting XI selected, West Ham remain strong favourites to win on home soil.
According to Opta Analyst’s supercomputer, the Hammers have a 68.8 per cent chance of securing victory.
Charlton have been given just a 13 per cent probability of claiming all three points, while the likelihood of the game ending in a draw stands at 18.3 per cent.
When did West Ham last face Charlton?
West Ham’s relegation means supporters will see their club take on several opponents they have rarely faced in recent years, with Charlton being one of them.
The two sides last met in September 2020 in the second round of the EFL Cup at the London Stadium.
Sebastian Haller struck twice on the night, while Felipe Anderson also found the net as the Hammers cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory.
A lot has changed at both clubs since that meeting, and they now find themselves competing in the same division.
However, West Ham remain the stronger side on paper, and Nuno will be expected to ensure that superiority is reflected on the pitch.
Anything short of victory could increase the pressure on the Hammers boss, making Saturday’s encounter an important early test for West Ham.
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