FK Backa Topola vs West Ham predictions: Serbs to make Hammers work for the win

Steve Davies

Spotlight

David Moyes and his West Ham side are once more making fine strides in Europe this season

- West Ham are in Serbia looking to stay top of Europa League Group A
- FK Backa Topola are still awaiting their first win of the campaign
- Recommended bet: Half Time draw

Conference League winners West Ham are thriving in the Europa League, knowing a win on Matchday Five in Serbia will guarantee participation in this competition in the New Year.

Even a draw could be good enough for David Moyes' men, but they will be wary of a Backa Topola side still with an eye on third place and a transfer to the Conference League.

Team news

Talisman Jarrod Bowen has not travelled to Serbia with West Ham for this clash

Michail Antonio is still injured and Jarrod Bowen has been left in London to recover from an ankle injury. That leaves Danny Ings or 19-year-old Divin Mubuma to lead the line for the Hammers.

As for Backa Topola, or TSC as they are known, they are free of injuries and suspensions and respected head coach Zarko Lazetic must be tempted to stick with the team who thrashed leaders Partizan Belgrade 4-0 at the weekend.

Team news

Michail Antonio is still injured and Jarrod Bowen has been left in London to recover from an ankle injury. That leaves Danny Ings or 19-year-old Divin Mubuma to lead the line for the Hammers.

The latest FK Backa Topola vs West Ham odds are available on LiveScore Bet

The stats

TSC are without a win in their last five home matches in all competitions

The hosts have not had a clean sheet in their last six at home, conceding 15 goals

In their last 17 league and European matches they have conceded a total of 25 goals but just four in the first half

The Hammers have won four of their last five matches

Wes Ham have found the net in each of their ten away fixtures this season.

Prediction

West Ham will be expecting to complete the double over Group A stragglers TSC but the absence of two of their more potent frontmen means it may not be easy for the Premier League side.

Minus Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen at Burnley on Saturday, the Hammers looked short of ideas or pace going forward and had to wait until the 86th minute before they grabbed their first goal – an own goal – in a 2-1 win.

That still represents an excellent win and continues a good run of form, and a group capable enough of going to Freiburg and winning should rightly be a short price in Backa Topola.

And TSC's home form is a worry. Over the last month they have drawn at Red Star Belgrade 1-1 in the Super League and at the weekend went to the capital's other giants and league leaders, Partizan, and raced to a 4-0 win.

At home, however, they have failed to win since September and that is a source of real concern.

The fact that they can still qualify for the Conference League knockout stages means they will be competitive in front of their own fans and expect them to try to stay in the game for as long as possible.

Interestingly, they have conceded 13 goals so far in the Group A campaign, 11 in the second half. At the London Stadium in September it was 0-0 at half-time before West Ham went on to win 3-1 in an open second half.

The Tie/West Ham Half Time/Full Time result at 3/1 is a tempter, trumped marginally by the half-time draw at 9/5.

Back half-time draw @ 9/5 with LiveScore Bet