Guffwatch

Unpacking the West Ham news cycle.

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Lincoln City vs West Ham

Started Last Movement

Both sides have named their teams for tonight's Championship match at Lincoln City.

Joël Veltman and Mohamadou Kanté start for West Ham, while Lincoln make five changes, including Tom Hamer and Callum Elder in defence and Chieo Ogbene in attack. West Ham still need the quicker start Nuno Espírito Santo called for.

No-Guff Summary

  • West Ham XI: Hermansen; Veltman, Mavropanos, Kilman, Morato; Bowen, Engels, Kanté, Solomon; Pablo, Piroe.
  • Lincoln's changes: Hamer, Elder, Oyegoke, Varfolomeev and Ogbene come into the starting side.
  • The match: West Ham visit Lincoln City in the Championship after conceding first in three straight games.
Development Updated

Nuno calls for faster start at Lincoln

West Ham have conceded first against QPR, Millwall and Fulham in their last three games. Ahead of Wednesday's trip to Lincoln City, Nuno Espírito Santo told the BBC: ‘We have to fix it, urgently.’ The draws with QPR and Millwall showed West Ham can respond, but the manager wants a good first half as well as a good second.

Nuno described Lincoln as aggressive, physical and direct in the club's pre-match account. He also said Joël Veltman is back after a recent setback and has been sharing the right-back position with Kyle Walker-Peters. That gives Nuno an option, not a confirmed selection.

Sources

  • West Ham United FC - Official Site (opens in a new tab) — Explains Nuno Espírito Santo’s thoughts ahead of West Ham’s match at Lincoln, including his call for improvement after the QPR draw and his assessment of the hosts.
  • BBC (opens in a new tab) — Reports Nuno Espírito Santo’s warning that West Ham must start matches better ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Lincoln City, with Keiber Lamadrid sidelined and Mohamadou Kanté available again.
  • The West Ham Way (opens in a new tab) — Argues that Joel Veltman should start at right-back against Lincoln, citing his performance in possession, and says Nuno Espirito Santo described Veltman as a good option who shares the position with Kyle Walker-Peters.
  • Knees up Mother Brown (opens in a new tab) — Reports Nuno Espirito Santo’s pre-match comments on squad availability, West Ham’s recent performances and the upcoming match against Lincoln City.