Charlton vs West Ham

Having gone into the last few games with a deluded sense of optimism another relegation clash feels me with nothing but dread. In hindsight West Ham's season could have been predicted from the meal we made of our opening game at home to Charlton. Despite finally winning the game 3-1 we were losing to the Addicks and looked out of the game until they were reduced to 10 men.

After the convoluted circumstances that saw an ex-Charlton manager become manager of West Ham and Pardew hop across the Thames to Charlton it is Charlton that have so far seemed to have benefited from the swap. Since Curbishley's opening game against Man Utd we have gone on to achieve the longest current winless streak in the Premiership of nine matches. Both clubs go into this game with an equal record of five wins, five draws and 17 defeats in the league and it is hard to admit but this game feels like an audition for the fizzy pop for both teams.

Taking West Ham's inability to win away from home alongside Pardew's knowledge of West Ham it is difficult to predict an away win for West Ham. I certainly hope I am wrong, but like our team my confidence is shot.