West Ham started Boxing Day a point clear of the relegation zone, but ended it two points clear of safety after a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Arsenal. Carlton Cole put West Ham ahead before the Gunners hit three second half goals.
Cole was a controversial re-signing for West Ham this season, but he has delivered with three goals from just seven shots at goal with 71.4% on target. That’s a goal every 2.33 shots, one of the best ratings in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He’s an industry best price of 9/4 to score any time with 888sport.com.
Cole is one of just four players in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index who has averaged less than 90 minutes per goal so far this season. The striker has hit a goal every 86.67 minutes to keep pace with Podolski, Aguero and Suarez as the other striker’s worth more than a goal a game.
Cole has been well supplied by Stewart Downing, who has delivered 21 crosses this season, the joint highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index
West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame has the best tackles won percentage of any Premier League player to attempt more than 50 tackles this season, coming away with the ball 51 times from 59 attempts.
In the West Ham midfield Guy Demel has also been putting in a brilliant defensive performance, winning all but 2 of the 27 tackles he has attempted this season, while Joey O’Brien has won 22 of 25 tackles in defense.
West Brom earned an important point against Spurs in their last game thanks to a Jonas Olsson goal from a Morgan Amalfitano free kick.
Olsson has been more effective at defending his own penalty area than threatening in the oppositions this season. He has made 162 clearances this season, the fourth highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Youssuf Mulumbu has excelled at protecting his back four, making 48 interceptions so far this season, the second highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Alongside him, Claudio Yacob won 8 tackles against Spurs, the highest by any player in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index in the last round of games.