Norwich Vs West Ham - Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups

by Crip Cooke

Venue: Carrow Road Referee: Jonathan Moss Date: 9th of November Norwich and West Ham are struggling of late. The former are certainly in worse form, and manager Chris Hughton knows he's running out of time to turn the club around before the board will consider relieving him of his duties. He's not been helped by the lack of goals from his two summer signings Gary Hooper and Rocky Van Wolfswinkel, and hopes the former can finally kick-start his Norwich career this weekend. Big Sam also has goal troubles with West Ham. The side are greatly paying the price for over-relying on Andy Carroll, who's been out all season, without having a viable replacement. As a result, the Hammers have often named a starting XI without a recognised striker, or with midfielder Kevin Nolan pushed higher up the pitch. It's a game that doesn't promise many goals on the face of it. Team News Norwich will be without Alex Tettey and Elliot Bennett, while Robert Snodgrass, Ricky Van Wolfswinkel, and Nathan Redmond are all doubtful - the latter could start. West Ham have six confirmed absentees with Alou Diarra, Ricardo Vaz Te, Matthew Taylor, and James Collins, while the sidelined Andy Carroll and George McCartney are yet to play this season. Carlton Cole may well be in line to make his first start of the season as manager Sam Allardyce looks to address his side's lack of goals. Recent Form The Canaries are enduring a poor run of form of late - with just one victory from their last seven league outings. Norwich have conceded 14 goals from their last four games - Man City recently putting seven goals past them at the Eithad Stadium. West Ham United have been suffering from a lack of goals - scoring just once in their last five Premier League games. With just one win from nine, the Hammers are also desperate for three points. Allardyce has already billed the meeting as a relegation 'six-pointer'. Likely Lineups Norwich City (4-2-3-1) - GK: John Ruddy, DL: Martin Olsson, DC: Sebastien Bassong & Michael Turner, DR: Russell Martin, MC: Leroy Fer & Jonny Howson, AML: Pilkington, AMC: Elmander, AMR: Nathan Redmond, ST: Gary Hooper West Ham (4-2-3-1) - GK: Jussi Jaaskelainen, DL: Razvan Rat, DC: James Tomkins & Winston Reid, DR: Guy Demel, MC: Mark Noble & Jack Collison, AML: Matt Jarvis, AMC: Ravel Morrison, AMR: Stewart Downing, ST: Kevin Nolan Source: BBC Football

 
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Crippy Cooke, 23, is a freelance Football Writer contributing to What Culture. He's had work featured on Zoo, MSN, London 24, The Telegraph, The Huffington Post, and was recently named Writer of the Year on FTBpro - while also a nominee for Best Male Blog in the Football Blogging Awards.