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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Karl Matchett

West Ham vs Watford prediction: How will Premier League fixture play out tonight?

West Ham host Watford at the London Stadium tonight in a game that will surely prove crucial in determining whether either side will still be in the Premier League next season.

The Hammers sit 16th in the table with 34 points and three games to play. Meanwhile, Watford are 17th, only trailing the east Londoners on goal difference.

Both sides are three points ahead of Bournemouth and Aston Villa, who occupy two of the three relegation spots, with Norwich having already been relegated. Follow all the live action below:

From a Villa and Bournemouth perspective, this is probably the best result. West Ham have, since the restart, always looked a level above the other sides at the bottom. They're now above Brighton on goal difference, too. Watford, meanwhile, have Manchester City and Arsenal to play in their final two games. That will give the teams below them some hope.
FULL TIME
That's it! A huge win for West Ham, whose players cheer in relief at the final whistle. They're effectively safe now, six points clear of Aston Villa and Bournemouth with a far superior goal difference. For Watford, the relegation battle continues.
SUBS
90+4 min: Antonio, having scored again tonight, makes way for Balbuena.
90+2 min: Kabasele is fouled just beyond halfway, so Watford send everyone forward. Cleverley's free kick is headed clear, and West Ham edge closer to a big win.
90+1 min: Watford will have five added minutes to try and find two goals.
89 min: Watford again come forward down the right. This time Pedro meets the cross and sends a wayward volley a long way wide.
88 min: Cleverley sends Sarr through down the right again. No one can catch him, but his ball into the middle is cleared by Johnson.
87 min: Moyes' side appear to have done enough to manage this game, despite some real discomfort earlier in the half. It's petering out a little for the visitors.
SUBS
86 min: Teenager Joao Pedro comes on for Welbeck for the final few minutes.
85 min: Johnson, who's done well for the most part at right back, wins a corner and allows West Ham to waste a few more seconds. The set piece is cleared but Rice sends it back into the box and Diop nods a header wide.
82 min: Chance! Sarr whips in a delicious cross from the right which beats Ogbonna and Gray and drops right in front of Welbeck. It hits the boot of the striker before he can react, though, and loops over the bar.
SUBS
81 min: Gray and Sarr link up nicely on the right and the former has room to send a ball towards Welbeck in the middle. The cross is blocked, though, and another promising Watford attack comes to nothing. West Ham then bring on Yarmolenko for Bowen.
78 min: The drinks break appears to have done the trick for West Ham, at least for the moment. Watford have lost their momentum, and the hosts are no longer penned into their own half.
75 min: Antonio, who's been moved out onto the left, crosses with the outside of his foot. It's an inviting one for Soucek, once again making his presence felt in the box. This time his header flies over the bar.
73 min: So close! Haller almost scores with his first touch. A long ball drops for the forward, who spots Foster way off his line. His volley flies over the head of the scrambling goalkeeper, who gets a slight touch on it, but drops just wide.
SUBS
72 min: Both sides make changes. Haller is on for Fornals and Chalobah replaces Doucoure.
71 min: Sarr's pace is frightening, and Ogbonna is again left to backtrack desperately as the Watford forward drives down the right. He overcooks his touch this time, watching as the ball runs out for a goal kick. That brings up a welcome drinks break for the hosts.
70 min: Foster punches clear the corner, but Noble is there to play the ball back into the box. Soucek tries to head it across at the back post but Dawson gets across to clear.
69 min: West Ham withstand another spell of Watford pressure. At the other end, Rice lines up another shot from distance, which deflects wide off Dawson's head.
SUBS
67 min: Andre Gray comes on in place of captain and goal scorer Deeney.

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