West Ham United will look to heap more misery on David Moyes and his men at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.
The Hammers will be looking to make it four wins on a spin at home after suffering two defeats on the road which brought an end to the Irons four game winning streak.
It is game that the East End club have a genuine chance at winning for the first time in years as the Red Devils suffer their worst season in a long time in the league despite their European exploits.
West Ham are by no means safe and will see this as an opportunity to gain “bonus points” ahead of a must win clash on Wednesday night against Hull City.
The Irons lie just six points clear of 18th place Sunderland but still have to play Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the coming weeks. They know they need to pick up points sooner rather than later to ease the growing tension around the East End.
With men coming back to fitness Allardyce has the relative luxury of picking from a fully fit squad minus Joey O’Brien and Marco Borriello; it is something the boss hasn’t had the option to do for much of the season. Though it is widely expected the team put out on Saturday will be similar to that of last weekend.
The only changes potentially being made is the induction of hard working midfielder Matty Taylor who could be set to replace loanee Antonio Nocerino as well as James Collins returning to the starting eleven to deal with Wayne Rooney.
Sam Allardyce was quick to calm the excitement around the East End of a possible chance of picking up three points against the Red Devils for the first time since 2007.
Allardyce said, “There are a lot of people saying Manchester United are playing better football away from home than they are at home, because there’s not quite so much pressure on them.
The last away game they played against a Premier League side they won 3-0 at West Brom so I think it’s going to be a difficult game with the talent they’ve got. They can always come out and deliver at any specific time.” He added.
Any chance of three points will rest on the shoulders of Andy Carroll once again, in the 2-2 draw last season, the big man terrorised the United back four including a memorable battering ram run that culminated in a nasty looking collision with David De Gea. He played a key role that day, and if he performs at a similar level the Hammers chances will be boosted tenfold.
On Andy Carroll’s return, Allardyce said, “He made two goals for Kevin against Swansea before he got sent-off. He managed to get on the scoresheet and may have scored two. We hope he can continue that as well as all the other players on the frontline. Players on the frontline are the key element when we’re in possession to try and score goals when they get the chances.”
Manchester United will look to get back to winning ways in the league after a humiliating home defeat to rivals Liverpool last weekend. They looked half the team that turned up to turn over Olympiakos on Wednesday night to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
But their 3-0 victory over the Greek champions came at a cost, the hat trick hero of the night Robin Van Persie will miss Saturday’s clash with a knee injury.
The Hammers will hope that they face the United team that turned up against Liverpool not the free flowing Red Devils that turned up against Olympiakos on Wednesday. They lie 12 points behind fourth placed Manchester City and must win on Saturday to keep their faint hopes of Champions League football alive.
One thing in United’s favour ahead of the clash, is the form of Wayne Rooney against the Hammers, the former Everton man very much enjoys playing against the Hammers, and always seems to pop up with a goal at Upton Park.
With Van Persie missing it will rest with the England man to create and score goals for the visitors, and when he has to step up, unfortunately for West Ham he usually does.
Ahead of the clash under fire boss David Moyes confirmed Van Persie will be missing as a precaution ahead of United’s clash with Manchester City next week.
He said: “We’re not quite conclusive on everything we’ve seen yet so we want to just check that out and be sure. He won’t be available for tomorrow’s game, but we’ll try to give you some update when we can on the outcome of it.”
Moyes was quick to heap praise on his opposing number Sam Allardyce, the Scotsmen said, “I think Big Sam has just won Manager of the Month. I don’t know if that was his curse last week [losing 3-1 to Stoke City] or if it’s still to come this week. But he’s done great. They were at a lower league position and he’s turned them around.”
It is a big clash for both teams, but for the first time in a long time the game means more to the Hammers than the Red Devils it is a game that should the Hammers win it will pull them further away from relegation trouble.
Team News:
West Ham United: West Ham pair Joey O’Brien and Marco Boriello remain unavailable for the visit of Manchester United. O’Brien has been sidelined since January with a dislocated shoulder, while Boriello has a calf strain.
Manchester United: Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic serves the first of a two-game ban after he was sent off in the defeat by Liverpool last weekend. Robin van Persie is ruled out after he suffered a knee injury in midweek Champions League duty.
Memorable matches:
· West Ham United 4-0 Manchester United (Carling Cup) 30 November 2010
· West Ham United 2-1 Manchester United (Premier League) 29 December 2007
· Manchester United 0-1 West Ham United (Premier League) 13 May 2007
· West Ham United 1-0 West Ham United (Premier League) 17 December 2006
· West Ham United 1-0 Manchester United (Division One) 25 April 1992
Form Guide:
West Ham United:
· Sat 08/02/14 Aston Villa 0 – 2 West Ham
· Tue 11/02/14 West Ham 2 – 0 Norwich City
· Sat 22/02/14 West Ham 3 – 1 Southampton
· Sat 01/03/14 Everton 1 – 0 West Ham
· Sat 15/03/14 Stoke City 3 – 1 West Ham
Manchester United:
· Sat 22/02/14 Crystal Palace 0 – 2 United
· Tue 25/02/14 Olympiakos Piraeus 2 – 0 United
· Sat 08/03/14 West Bromwich … 0 – 3 United
· Sun 16/03/14 Manchester United 0 – 3 Liverpool
· Wed 19/03/14 Manchester United 3 – 0 Olympiakos Piraeus
Travel News: There is a good service running on all lines (for a change). For first time visitors, from Waterloo Take the jubilee line Eastbound, get off at West Ham and take the district line towards Upminster and depart at Upton Park. From St Pancras, take the Hammersmith and City line towards Barking and depart at Upton Park.
Bowdenwhu Predicts: West Ham United 1-3 Manchester United
Come on you Irons!
Tweet me @Bowdenwhu
