West Ham United FC v Manure

TEAM NEWS

Scott Parker is expected to be fit for West Ham despite picking up shoulder and calf injuries on England duty.

Striker Frederic Piquionne is hoping to return from the toe injury that saw him miss the draw with Tottenham.

Manchester United will welcome back captain Nemanja Vidic from a calf injury to boost their ailing defence.

Jonny Evans begins a three-match suspension following his red card against Bolton, while Paul Scholes completes his own ban.

West Ham

Doubtful: Parker (shoulder & calf), Piquionne (foot)

Injured: Collison & Kurucz (both knee), Stanislas (hernia)

Man Utd

Suspended: Evans (three matches), Scholes (one match)

Doubtful: Anderson (knee)

Injured: Brown & Ferdinand (calf), Fletcher (virus), Hargreaves (shoulder), Lindegaard (knee), O'Shea & Rafael (both hamstring)

MATCH PREVIEW

Manchester United return to the scene of their biggest defeat of the season for a match with huge repercussions at the top and bottom of the table.

These are must-win games, in the sense that every time you get three points, it's another step closer to the finish line

Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson's men saw their invincible aura shattered when they were humbled 4-0 in November's Carling Cup quarter-final at Upton Park, and the manager will be desperate to avoid a third defeat in four outings as United look to strengthen their grip on a record 19th title.

For West Ham, three points is a must as they scrap to survive in the top flight. Avram Grant's side have breathed new life into a campaign that appeared to be dead and buried, hauling themselves out of the relegation zone with a four-match unbeaten run.

Despite that Carling Cup defeat, Manchester United have dominated recent league meetings between these sides, winning their last five encounters without conceding a goal. However, they have struggled on their travels this season and have managed just one victory in the capital in their last five attempts.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Manchester United have won the last five Premier League games against West Ham without conceding a goal.

• But their most recent meeting came in November's Carling Cup quarter-finals when the Hammers ran out comfortable 4-0 winners at Upton Park.

• Wayne Rooney has scored five goals in eight Premier League games for United against the Hammers. The England striker is two short of 100 Premier League goals for United.

West Ham

• The in-form Hammers have scored 15 times in their last six league and cup matches.

• They have lost just one of their last seven Premier League matches - a 1-0 home defeat to Birmingham City on 6 February.

• Their next defeat will be their 250th in the Premier League.

• Carlton Cole could make the 250th appearance of his club career.

Man Utd

• Sir Alex Ferguson's men have only won four of their last 15 Premier League away games.

• They have only won one of their last five Premier League games in London, and only five of the last 19.

• According to Opta Stats, United have scored with 18% of their shots, giving them the best conversion rate in the Premier League this season.

• Javier Hernandez has scored 10 goals from just 14 shots on target according to Opta Stats.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Carlton Cole

West Ham

Cole: 11 goals (5 league); Piquionne: 9 goals (6 league);
Obinna: 8 goals (3 league)

Dimitar Berbatov

Man Utd

Berbatov: 21 goals (20 league);
Hernandez: 16 goals (10 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Lee Mason

Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Patrick Keane

Fourth official: Stuart Attwell

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

West Ham (D0-0 v Tottenham, a): Green, Jacobsen, da Costa, Upson, Bridge, O'Neil, Parker, Hitzlsperger, Noble, Cole (Obinna 78), Ba. Subs not used: Boffin, Gabbidon, Tomkins, Boa Morte, Sears, Hines.

Man Utd (W1-0 v Bolton, h): Van der Sar, Brown (Fabio Da Silva 46), Smalling, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Hernandez (Berbatov 46). Subs not used: Kuszczak, Owen, Park, Gibson, Gill.





COYI

A one - nil will do this time lads!

~C~O~Y~I~
~C~O~Y~I~

I am gutted that Jonny Evans is suspended as he is the only centre half that CC has made look crap all season !!

Never know dude he might get the chance to make someone else look crap

Im just glad Scholes wont be playing and able to cripple anyone. Thug!!

They are a team of bully boys and thugs, always have been under ole rednose, and the latest crop of nobs are very adroit at diving, even more so than the portugeezer was!

A nice little 1-0 win would be a great way to shut ole rednose up now he wants to cosy up to the beeb again, arrogant numpty

Link for those without Sky

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Nice one Blakey

West Ham United starting XI - Green, Jacobsen, Bridge, Da Costa, Upson, Parker, Hitzlsperger, Noble, O'Neil, Ba, Cole

West Ham United substitutes - Boffin, Reid, Tomkins, Spector, Piquionne, Obinna, Keane



COYI

Great start! Why no red for Evra? Looked deliberate to me & he was the last man.

finguck great start!!!!! 2 Nobes pens! End the game now!

Great half - we are roughing them up a bit. Important we held the 2 goal advantage until the break. Expecting Berbatov to make an appearance early in the 2nd. Their centre halves don't like it up 'em so keep up the direct work!

Brilliant two pens from Noble , going in at half time 2-0 up against Manure finguck loverly juberly . manpoo have had the majority of play but I think we have held them off pretty well . need to get a 3rd to kill the game , should have been a red for Vidic cheating cnut . gonna be a nervous 2nd half .

COYI

Defending like Lions, need to keep the tempo up and press Vidic and smalling there's more goals in this for us if we do. Press them hard in the middle and hope that they dont bring on berbatoss. Looking good at the moment, but a long way to go, they get the hairdryer at half time, what will Greenback do to our lot?

Piss awf shrek a bit more so he ends up going off will make my day

Is giggs playing left back?

Vidic has to go soon!

Not sure about taking CC off. Thought he was doing a good job roughing up Smalling.

Game over 2-0 up and we fucked it up , captain fantastic fcuk OFF you usless cnut

No more football today. Not in the mood.

Me niether dude , now we go under the line AGAIN

Need a few results to help us out today , as much as I hate to say it and I will wash my mouth out later , Come on Tottenham, Bolton and especially Newcastle , spit spit spit

Greenback after the game from Sky Sports

Avram Grant insists West Ham will recover from the crushing disappointment of throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 at home to Manchester United.

Mark Noble had put the relegation-threatened hosts in control at the interval with a brace of penalties and had the home fans dreaming of a repeat of their Carling Cup success over the Red Devils.

But a second-half hat-trick from an inspired Wayne Rooney saw the visitors run out comfortable victors in the end, with Javier Hernandez adding a late fourth.

On what effect the nature of the defeat will have on morale, Grant told Sky Sports: "It will not damage it.
Strong

"We are a strong team and we have showed we can recover well.

"We are disappointed. It was 2-0, we played well and then they scored."

The result saw the Hammers slide back into the relegation zone, although Grant would not read too much into the loss.

"We had a big job before. We can get over this," he added.

"We came strong, we were very good in the first half and it is more disappointing."


What nothing about Phil Mitchels look alike , Make the most of it AG , have a pop at the ref and how he changed in the 2nd after him and Rednose had a Tete a Tate behind the bike sheds , your up in front of the Gestapo soon

Asked whether Vidic should have been sent off, he replied: “I think so but I don’t want to talk about the referee.”

Fuckin bollicks bollicks bollicks! That was pants to go through