What AI thinks the score of West Ham's first 5 EFL Championship fixtures will be | OneFootball

FLW consults ChatGPT to see how AI believes West Ham will begin next season

West Ham United's first season back in the Championship since the 2011/12 campaign feels a little more like reality now, after the Hammers found out their fixtures ahead of the new term on Thursday afternoon.

Nuno Espírito Santo's side opens the 2026/27 campaign on the road against Burnley in a clash between two of the recently relegated Premier League outfits, before hosting Charlton Athletic in their first home game of the league season.

The big matchup throughout the campaign sees them head to Millwall on September 19, before hosting the Lions in February in the return of the Dockers derby for the first time since that 2011/12 season.

And towards the end of the year, West Ham have to contend with trips to Wolves and Middlesbrough, two other promotion contenders, in the final two weeks. On paper, this pre-season, those could be massive six-pointers.

But, if the Hammers are to be in a title battle come late April, they'll likely have to hit the ground running immediately to lay the foundations of a title-winning side. FLW have consulted popular AI-based service, ChatGPT, to see whether it believes that the Hammers will get off on the front foot in their first five games.

AI predicts the first five scorelines of West Ham's Championship return

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West Ham's first Championship outing since the 2012 play-off final sees them head to Turf Moor to take on Burnley, the only side they did the double over in the Premier League last season.

That included a 2-0 win in Lancashire in February, but AI doesn't feel that the Hammers will be leaving with all three points on August 16, predicting a 1-1 draw.

Facing a fellow relegated side so early in the campaign can be difficult, though, and won't be a reflection of how their whole campaign will go. Indeed, ChatGPT predicts a rather straightforward 2-0 win in their first home game against Charlton.

Closing out August, Nuno's side travel to Watford, a side that not many know what to expect heading into the new season, given their erratic nature. The Hornets were a top-10 side at Vicarage Road last season, and AI feels that they'll be able to take a point from the recently relegated Hammers, with another 1-1 draw on the cards.

So, it'll be an unbeaten August for West Ham, but with a couple of draws away from home to go alongside their win at the London Stadium. Next up on a Tuesday night is another former Premier League outfit, as they host Wolves on September 1.

Wolves at home produced arguably the performance of the season last year under Nuno, as the Hammers won 4-0, but AI believes it'll be a completely different game next season, predicting a 2-1 defeat against a side who will be more settled into the new season than West Ham.

They'll bounce back a few days later at home against Derby County, though, in what will be a tough matchup against one of the better away sides in the division last season. ChatGPT states that it will be a 2-1 bounce-back victory for Nuno's side.

West Ham may be disappointed with eight points in their opening five games

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If you offered eight points out of a possible 15 to open the campaign, West Ham fans may turn their noses up at it.

In reality, though, matchups against their two fellow relegated sides and a Rams outfit who many are tipping to land in a play-off spot in the opening five are quite a tough hand to be dealt.

There'll be frustration at not picking up maximum points at Watford, but if that can be overlaid by a win over Derby a week later, there'll be some confidence that, despite a middling start, the Hammers could easily crack on once their squad is settled into the new season.

It can often be the case that recently relegated sides can struggle to find their feet, especially if they're forecast to lose some important players. With that in mind, eight points in those opening five games may not be too bad an outcome for West Ham.