Date: Saturday, 28 December; Venue: Upton Park, East London; Kickoff: 12:45 GMT
Advertisement
West Ham United host West Bromwich Albion protecting a record of a decade unbeaten in home meetings. Brian Deane scored three times - twice at the right end and then in his own net - in November 2003 as the Baggies edged a seven-goal thriller 4-3.
The Hammers last entertained Albion in March and ran out 3-1 winners, but they will still be without Andy Carroll - the difference between the sides that day. Sam Allardyce has further intensified the pressure on himself by describing Saturday's lunchtime encounter with West Brom as "a must win" as West Ham have slipped into the Premier League's bottom three.
Advertisement
Heavyweights Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have all given the Hammers hidings in recent outings with only an extended run in the Capital One Cup affordng fans crumbs of Christmas comfort. The Baggies meanwhile come into this crunch clash on an eight-match winless run. Albion are still yet to name a successor to Steve Clarke, so Keith Downing takes caretaker charge for the third game running. Former Real Betis boss Pepe Mel is the odds-on favourite, however, and the Daily Telegraph reports he is set to be appointed after this game.
Team News
West Ham defender James Collins is a major doubt after limping off during the 3-1 loss against Arsenal with a calf strain. George McCartney may deputize at centre half again, so Razvan Rat should start at left back. Allardyce must also decide whether to keep faith with Spanish stopper Adrian or bring faithful retainer Jussi Jaaskelainen back in goal. The veteran Finn has been on the bench for the last three outings. Forwards Ricardo Vaz Te and Mladen Petric remain long-term Hammers absentees alongside Carroll, defender Winston Reid and understudy goalie Stephen Henderson. Ravel Morrison could remain on the bench after picking up a groin problem on over Christmas. Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long will have a fitness test on the calf injury that caused him to miss West Brom's 1-1 Boxing Day draw at Tottenham Hotspur. If this match comes too soon for him, Albion are likely to play Hungary captain Zoltan Gera off Czech striker Matej Vydra again. Fellow Baggies forward Peter Odemwingie is also a doubt with a groin problem. Source: BBC, West Ham official website,
Likely Line-Ups
West Ham: 13 Adrian/22 Jussi Jaaskelainen, 17 Joey O'Brien/20 Guy Demel, 5 James Tomkins, 3 George McCartney, 8 Razvan Rat, 21 Mohamed Diame, 16 Mark Noble, 26 Joe Cole, 4 Kevin Nolan, 7 Matt Jarvis, 24 Carlton Cole 4-2-3-1 West Brom: 1 Ben Foster, 2 Steven Reid/25 Craig Dawson, 14 Diego Lugano/23 Gareth McAuley, 3 Jonas Olsson, 6 Liam Ridgewell, 21 Youssouf Mulumbu, 5 Claudio Yacob, 18 Morgan Amalfitano, 7 James Morrison, 22 Zoltan Gera, 9 Shane Long/20 Matej Vydra 4-2-3-1