West Ham United vs Cardiff City
Saturday 17th August 2013
Kick Off 3pm
Boleyn Ground
Ref: Howard Webb
Iron out your football shirts, warm up those vocal cords, the long awaited return of competitive football is over as West Ham United welcome newly promoted Cardiff City to the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.
Last season’s Championship winners Cardiff City will want to repeat the 1-0 win they collected in the opening game of the Championship season two years ago at the same ground.
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With a fairly favourable start to the season, the Hammers will want to get off to a flyer, similar to that of last season. It will help to erase fears of the dreaded second season syndrome that hit Queens Park Rangers last season (actually, they were awful in the first season, too).
The Irons have had a good recent record over the Bluebirds winning their last three meetings; with new signings Stewart Downing and Razvan Rat set to start the squad is much stronger than the one Cardiff faced in those Play-Off semi-finals.
The Hammers have no choice but to line up with Mali forward Modibo Maiga with record signing Andy Carroll still struggling with his heel injury. With little options up front it could give the opportunity for the likes of new signing Danny Whitehead or youngster Elliot Lee the chance of the bench.
Sam Allardyce warned his West Ham players against complacency in his press conference, earlier in the week.
He said; “”From Malky’s point of view it’s going to be a really tough game, so complacency is certainly not what we’re after. The perception outside of Cardiff and West Ham fans is that we’re going to turn up on Saturday and win easily. My message to the lads is that there’s no easy game in the Premier League and if we don’t hit the ground running and hit our top form, this will be a very difficult game for us.”
He also confirmed for the first time in his managerial career he’s side has come through pre-season injury free, once again confirming that he is the master of the technical side of the game.
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He said; “There’s no injury news from our team at the moment. It’s the first time in my management career that I’ve gone through a pre-season without a single injury. We’ve had knocks, but no player has had to miss a game because of injury throughout the entire summer, so I hope that continues all the way through to next May!”
The first game of the season brings new hope, new stars, new chants and new dreams and Cardiff will want to get their first ever three points in the Premier League. Former West Ham forward Craig Bellamy will skipper his boyhood club on their big day.
The Welsh side will travel to the East end on a high following their promotion and will believe that they can come away with three points. With £30 million spent they have certainly given themselves the best possible chance of survival. The bookies favourites to go down will need to get out of the blocks quickly and get points on the board and three points on Saturday will act as the perfect start.
New signing Gary Medel is expected to start despite not training with his new team mates but the game will be most memorable for 18 year old Declan John, who is rumoured to have been given the nod to get a start in Cardiff’s first Premier League game.
West Ham United will have to keep former Hammer Craig Bellamy quiet if they are going to continue their fine home form of last season. Bellamy who returned to his boyhood club in 2012 and his pace will cause James Collins all sorts of problems. Hopefully Winston Reid will keep him in his back pocket.
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Match facts:
Last five meetings
· 06/02/2005- West Ham United 1 Cardiff 0
· 07/08/2011- West Ham United 0 Cardiff 1
· 04/03/2012- Cardiff 0 West Ham United 2
· 03/05/2012- Cardiff 0 West Ham United 2
· 07/05/2012- West Ham United 3 Cardiff 0
New faces:
West Ham- Andy Carroll, Razvan Rat, Adrian, Danny Whitehead, Stewart Downing
Cardiff- Steven Caulker, Gary Medel, Andreas Cornelius, John Brayford, Simon Moore
Travel Info
·Those morons at TFL have made it difficult for us once again. The Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines will be closed between West Ham and central London on Saturday.
· So take the Jubilee Line from West Ham.
Cardiff fans where to drink?
· Denmark Arms – On the Barking road near East Ham town hall.
· Black Lion- My watering hole- Near Plaistow station.
Team News
West Ham United: The Irons have no fresh injury worries ahead of the curtain raiser at the Boleyn. Only long term absentees Andy Carroll and George McCartney remain missing for the Hammers.
Cardiff City: New signings Steven Caulker and Gary Medel are set to start for the Bluebirds in the East end, while fellow new signing Andreas Cornelius looks set to have to take place on the Cardiff bench having only just recovered from a troublesome ankle injury. 18 year old Declan John is set to deputise at left back.
Bowdenwhu Predicts: West Ham United 2 Cardiff 1
Come on You Irons!
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Do you think Collins will start? Ha he recovered from his knock?