Sam Allardyce wants his West Ham United side to “spoil the party” on Sunday as he aims for one last hurrah this season.
Sunday’s season climax puts West Ham United in the limelight as the Premier League title race goes down to the wire. The Hammers faithful will be joined by millions of Liverpool fans around the world hoping for a West Ham win as the 2013/2014 season comes to a close.
The Irons made sure of their Premier League survival last Saturday when they completed a memorable hat-trick of wins over rivals Tottenham Hotspur, and are now ready to have a real say in the Premier League title race.
With no pressure on them, the East End club will travel to the Etihad to try to sign off in style, whilst players like Andy Carroll, Mark Noble and James Tomkins will use this as an opportunity to prove themselves one last time to Roy Hodgson before he picks his preliminary squad for the World Cup in Brazil.
Liverpool fans will hope their old boys can do them a favour, after selling the Hammers, Carroll and Downing in the summer. Their stunning 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday means the only way the Reds can lift the title is with a Hammers win in Manchester.
The omens don’t look good for Liverpool with the Irons having played the Citizens on three occasions this season with an aggregate score of 12-1 over the three games. West Ham will, though, look for revenge after City knocked them out of the Capital One Cup in the semi-final stage; oddly Allardyce has come out in the press saying he wants the Hammers to win for Steven Gerrard.
Whilst West Ham will be rank outsiders on Sunday, the players know full well that a win would further boost Sam Allardyce’s cv. The vultures are, reportedly, beginning to circle around Big Sam, with many murmurings in the press suggest this could well be the Dudley born man’s last game in charge of the Hammers, with one paper even writing up a feature on “why West Ham will regret the sacking of Sam Allardyce”. That article right there is what I call premature journolation from the Daily Mail.
Ahead of the clash, Sam Allardyce told gathering journalists that he doesn’t fear the sack, and is fully focused on spoiling Manchester City’s party in front of the Sky cameras.
He said: “I watched the game against Aston Villa the other night and we all know that Manchester City in full flow are very difficult to play against. We’ve got to go out there and give a fantastic performance to stop them trying to grasp the title.”
“Every player on top of his form, every player can go out and give everything they’ve got on the basis that they know we’re in the Premier League next year, but let’s try and spoil Manchester City’s party.” He added.
City, meanwhile, know their fate is in their hands, Wednesday nights second half show meant that anything but defeat will be enough to claim the Premier League title.
Having dispatched the Hammers at ease on three occasions already this season, you would be a foolish man to bet against the Citizens on Sunday.
With the returning Sergio Aguero, the footballing world will hope for a similar climax to that of the 2011/2012 season which saw the memorable “AAAAGGGGGUERRRROOOOOOO” moment steal the Premier League title from the grubby mits of Manchester United.
Manchester City will fear no one, least not West Ham, as they have racked up an impressive ONE HUNDRED goals already this season, and City manager Manuel Pellegrini made no secret of the fact that he expects his side to lift the title come 5pm Saturday.
The Chilean said: “Of course I expect to win the title now, it is the last game and we know if we win the last game we will win the title.”
“Now we are top and I hope we are not going to lose on Sunday, but we must play the way we have played against Villa, and the way we have played all season” He added.
Football is a funny old game, and I would like to think City’s overconfidence could open the door for a memorable win over Pellegrini’s side, but if that means handing the trophy over to Liverpool, I may well just pass. The media love in has been unbearable as it is, could you imagine if they actually won the thing? Pass me the sick bucket please.
Team News:
Manchester City: Manchester City top scorer Sergio Aguero is fit after missing the win over Aston Villa with a groin injury.
Midfielder Fernandinho has been used sparingly recently because of a leg problem but could be fit enough to start.
West Ham: West Ham have no new injury worries ahead of the trip to the Etihad Stadium.
Marco Borriello is the only absentee with a long-term calf problem.
How to get to the Etihad:
By car: Leave the M60 at Junction 24 and take the A57 (Hyde Road) towards Manchester. Turn right onto the A6010 (Pottery Lane). There are quite a number of unofficial car parks on both sides of Pottery Lane, costing around £5 per car. Pottery Lane becomes the Alan Turing Way and goes right past the stadium on your left’.
By rail: The closest railway station is Ashburys which is a short five minute train ride away from Manchester Piccadilly Station. The stadium is about a 15 minute walk away from Ashburys station. As you come out of the station turn left and after proceeding up the road you will come to the stadium on your left.
Where to drink:
‘The Stanley’ (aka Sports Bar) pub does let in away fans in small numbers. It is about a ten minute walk away from the stadium. Be warned though it is pay on the door. Or look closer to the city centre at pubs like the Printworks or the Townley.
Form Guide:
Manchester City:
· Manchester City 2 – 2 Sunderland
· Manchester City 3 – 1 West Bromwich
· Crystal Palace 0 – 2 Manchester City
· Everton 2 – 3 Manchester City
· Manchester City 4 – 0 Aston Villa
West Ham United:
· West Ham 1-2 Liverpool
· Arsenal 3-1 West Ham
· West Ham 0-1 Crystal Palace
· West Brom 1-0 West Ham
· West Ham 2-0 Tottenham
Bowdenwhu Predicts: Manchester City 3-1 West Ham United
Come on you Irons!
Tweet me @Bowdenwhu
