Lawro gets his claws into the Hammers

Put em up!

BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson has again provoked the ire of many Hammers fans with comments ahead of Today's Premiership clash away to bottom of the table AFC Slumberland.

In a move surely designed to raise eyebrows, Lawro has predicted a win for the Black Cats to end the Hammers three in a row away winning sequence while halting a three in a row defeat rating for Advocaats troubled side.

These are the kind of psychological tactics used by Lawrenson's Liverpool during their glory days a few decades ago, but as West Ham's recent 3-0 Anfield humbling of the once great Reds demonstrates, other sides have wised up the fact that its not so hard to turn the Scouse support against their 'heroes' these days.

Meanwhile, word is that this will be Advocaat's final game in charge as bottom of the table Sunderland have looked well short of the Premiership mark this year. With Winston Reid reportedly recovered from a midweek training knock, West ham can continue with their best XI today.

However, what's the odds that Jermain Defoe doesn't score against his former employees as the Hammers seem capable of all kinds of inconsistency in terms of expected results this season!

We reckon 2-1 to the Hammers.