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West Ham United vs Burnley news: Hammers hoping to capitalise against crisis-hit Clarets

Easter Sunday sees top-four hopefuls West Ham United host managerless Burnley at the London Stadium with the two teams in need of the points for different reasons.

David Moyes' men suffered a huge blow in their push for a top-four finish with a 2-0 defeat to Brentford last time out in the Premier League, but they put that behind them to produce a superb 3-0 away win at Lyon in the Europa League.

Burnley are in the fight of their lives to preserve their top-flight status and a 2-0 defeat by bottom-club Norwich City last time out was described by then-manager Sean Dyche as a "huge setback". Perhaps, then, he was the only person who wasn't shocked by Burnley's decision to sack him on Friday. 

The Clarets are four points from safety with eight games remaining.
They have won only one away game all season, have lost five of their last six games and have suffered back-to-back defeats on the road without scoring.

Dyche's whole senior staff have left the club with him, leaving Under-23s coach Mike Jackson to try to mastermind what would be a huge win for the Lancashire side.

When: Sunday, April 17 (14:15 BST)

Where: London Stadium

How to watch: Not televised

Follow this game via our score centre

Who is the referee for West Ham United vs Burnley

Paul Tierney will charge on Sunday in what will be his 30th game in all competitions this season and 124th in the Premier League since his elevation to the Select Group of Referees ahead of the 2015/16 season.

The 41-year-old took charge of Crystal Palace's 3-0 victory over Arsenal on Monday in what was a low-key night officiating, with only two yellow cards issued - both to Arsenal players.

Games (in all competitions) refereed by Paul Tierney in season 2021/22 - Games 29, red cards 2, yellow cards 102.

Referee: Paul Tierney.

Assistants: Lee Betts, Harry Lennard.

Fourth official: Graham Scott.

VAR: Andre Marriner.

Assistant VAR: Matthew Wilkes.

Recent form

A 2-0 defeat by Brentford leaves West Ham in sixth spot and trailing Tottenham for the coveted final Champions League place by six points.

The managed only seven shots - and just one on target - against the Bees and a dejected David Moyes admitted: "I don't have any complaints at all."

The Hammers have played one game more than Spurs - and two more than Arsenal in fifth - in the race to secure a top-four finish and a run of no wins in five on the road has ramped up the significance of taking home comforts on Sunday.

West Ham have not lost at the London Stadium since a crazy 3-2 setback against Leeds United and will be looking to make it four straight home wins on Sunday.
So much was expected of Burnley off the back of a dramatic 3-2 win over Everton but a poor defeat against basement-club Norwich City leaves them third from bottom on 24 points - four from safety.
A growing sense of the unthinkable turning to reality is starting to affect long-suffering fans and the Clarets' miserable away form means it is difficult to build a case for them on Sunday.

They still have to face relegation rivals Watford but there is a growing sense that Burnley's time in the top flight is coming to an end, and that sense has only heightened since they decided to part ways with Dyche.

Players in form

Few players emerged with credit from West Ham's 2-0 defeat by Brentford but Jarrod Bowen's goals could help him gatecrash England's World Cup squad.

The former Hull City wideman is on nine for the season but missed the cut for the recent internationals against Switzerland and Ivory Coast.

The 25 year old has scored three goals in his last four appearances in all competitions and will be keen to end the season on a high.

Bowen also has the most assists (8) for West Ham this season.

Michail Antonio has scored each of West Ham's last three Premier League goals against Burnley - but has now gone nine games in all competitions without finding the net.

His last goal in the Premier League was on New Year's Day in a 3-2 win at Crystal Palace.

Maxwel Cornet - match-winning hero against Everton - missed a glorious opportunity to equalise against Norwich but has been one of the highlights for Burnley this season. He has scored seven goals in 16 starts in the Premier League.

Another positive from a day to forget at Carrow Road was the performance from the bench of Dwight McNeil, who was left out of the starting line-up against Everton.

The 22-year-old has yet to score this season in the top flight but his assists will be crucial if Burnley are to avoid the drop.

Past meetings

The two sides last met in the reverse fixture back on December 12 in a goalless draw at Turf Moor, with goalkeeper Nick Pope starring for the Clarets.

The England international pulled off brilliant saves to deny Issa Diop and then Bowen in the closing stages to secure Burnley a point.

Chris Wood should have done better when he headed over from a Dwight McNeil cross and Jay Rodriguez had a shot blocked by defender Craig Dawson.

The point denied West Ham a third straight win over Burnley.

Burnley have won two of their last four Premier League trips to West Ham - as many as they had in their previous 21 top-flight visits to the Boleyn Ground or the London Stadium (D4 L15).

Managers' thoughts

West Ham boss David Moyes has warned his players they cannot afford to allow their fine form in the Europa League become a distraction.

"The league is really important for us and we have to try to hang in there in the European places if we can," he said.
"Whatever way you deal with the European games, you have to deal with it. The big clubs do and get results, so we will do the same.
"We've done pretty well this year considering the Thursday-Sunday games, which is not an ideal situation. Hopefully we can prepare as well as we possibly can."
Meanwhile, things have been very quiet coming out of Burnley since the sacking of Sean Dyce.
Under-23s coach Mike Jackson will take charge of the game, assisted by Academy Director Paul Jenkins, Under-23s goalkeeping coach Connor King and Club Captain Ben Mee.

Predicted teams

West Ham's main concern is an ankle injury sustained by Kurt Zouma.

The 27-year-old France central defender was forced off against Brentford and did not travel with West Ham on Thursday for their Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon.

Mike Jackson is beiong assisted by club captain Ben Mee and he, along with fellow defender Erik Pieters, could come back into contention for the trip to the London Stadium.

Mee has missed the last five games because of a hairline fracture of the fibula, and Dyche told reporters before his sacking: "We will have to wait and see how he goes this week, but he is back on the grass, which is good.

"Hopefully that will continue to progress and we can get him back fit."

Pieters has missed the last six games, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson remains sidelined and may miss the rest of the season.

West Ham United vs Burnley prediction

West Ham looked miles off the pace against Brentford and their hopes of finishing in the top four are in doubt.
However, they have earned 25 points from their last 27 available in home matches against sides in the relegation zone (W8 D1 L0), winning each of the last six, and on Sunday can make it four consecutive victories at the London Stadium in what looks like the ideal fixture to bounce back.

Burnley's desperate away form makes them unappealing and defeat at Norwich looked like a death-knell in their fight to stay in the Premier League. One glimmer of hope for the Clarets is West Ham have struggled to win games after tough European nights before this season. 

However, without an established manager inthe dugout, the best they can achieve here on current form is a draw in the hope that McNeil and Cornet can somehow provide the spark for them.

We'll go for a routine 2-0 West Ham win.

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