- Team form: West Ham have scored six goals in their last five matches, Joshua Ajala has scored two of them.
- Away record: Derby have scored one goal and conceded two in their only Championship 2026-2027 away game this term (L1).
West Ham to win Championship 2026-2027 clash
West Ham come into this game as clear favorites at 1.28, with Derby County as big as 2.4 to spring the upset. However, the bookmakers favor West Ham, as West Ham have beaten Derby 2-0 on the road in the FA Cup 2022/2023 and have a much better starting point in this clash at London Stadium.
The hosts are 19th in the Championship 2026-2027 with two points from their opening three games, while Derby sit two places below on one point.
Hammers’ compact setup
System and shape
Nuno Espirito Santo has his West Ham side set up to be compact and reactive, with a back four that can close up to become a five in an instant.
Form and recent games
His side have had a mixed but lively spell of late, with two wins, two draws and a defeat from their last five games. A 1-1 draw with Watford in the Championship 2026-2027 followed a 1-4 win at Southampton in the EFL Cup, while they were beaten 1-2 by Charlton in their only home game in the Championship 2026-2027 so far.
They have conceded two goals in that solitary home game and the Rams could cause some problems in that area, but the hosts have the quality and the edge in the striker position to edge this one.
Rams lack cutting edge
Derby's last five results have been poor, with no wins, two draws and three defeats, although they have had a few tough games. Their away record in the Championship 2026/2027 is 100% defeat, with one loss, and they have scored 1 goal on the road.
John Eustace has his team drilled in a 4-2-3-1, with the double pivot being very disciplined before they spring forward in numbers when they win the ball back.
- A 0-3 home loss to Swansea was followed by a 2-2 home draw with Cardiff and a 2-1 away defeat to Charlton in the Championship 2026/2027.
Take West Ham at the favorite
Both of these sides like to hit teams on the counterattack and both can be dangerous when they are able to do so. However, West Ham have a tighter shell and are more likely to control the pace of this game.
The Hammers are the likeliest team to nick it, although Derby's compact style should keep this a little tighter than the odds suggest. Joshua Ajala has been the star of the Championship 2026/2027 for West Ham so far, with two goals in the last five matches, but Bobby Clark has been Derby's most impactful player with a goal and an assist in three matches.
Anytime goalscorer picks may have a role, but Both Teams To Score is set to No at 1.53, which seems a bit high.
