WEST HAM UNITED v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 30th March 2013, 3:00pm
Upton Park

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 94th competitive meeting of the two clubs. Albion have won 37 games compared to West Ham’s 36.

The last four meetings between the two sides have ended in draws.

A victory for Albion would see them set a new club record for most wins (14) during a Premier League season. The club's previous high of 13 was set in 2011/12.

Albion last played a game on March 30 in 2002 when goals from Jordao, Danny Dichio and Trevor Benjamin gave them a 3-1 win over Barnsley at The Hawthorns.

Baggies' striker Romelu Lukaku needs two goals to equal Peter Odemwingie's club record of 15 Premier League goals in a season.

Albion's last six games: Stoke City (A) 0-0; Swansea City (H) 2-1; Chelsea (A) 0-1; Sunderland (H) 2-1; Liverpool (A) 2-0; Tottenham Hotspur (H) 0-1.

West Ham's last six games: Chelsea (A) 0-2; Stoke City (A) 1-0; Tottenham Hotspur (H) 2-3; Aston Villa (A) 1-2; Swansea City (H) 1-0; Fulham (A) 1-3.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Midfielder James Morrison will miss the game due to the hamstring injury he suffered against Stoke a fortnight ago.

Peter Odemwingie retains his place in the squad despite another Twitter rant against the club.

George Thorne and Zoltan Gera remain sidelined with long-term injuries.

Squad from: Foster, Myhill, Daniels, Reid, Jones, Olsson, McAuley, Tamas, Ridgewell, Popov, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Yacob, Brunt, Morrison, Thomas, Lukaku, Long, Fortune, Odemwingie, Rosenberg, Brown.

West Ham United

United captain Kevin Nolan has recovered from a toe injury and is available for selection while midfielder Joe Cole will also return following his recent hamstring injury.

George McCartney may return after stepping up his comeback from a knee injury with an appearance for United's Development Squad.

Mark Noble (shoulder) is unavailable as is back-up goalkeeper Raphael Spiegel (finger).

Squad from: Jaaskelainen, Henderson, Reid, Tomkins, Collins, Pogatetz, McCartney, O'Brien, Demel, Jarvis, Diame, O'Neil, Nolan, J Cole, Collison, Taylor, Diarra, C Cole, Vaz Te, Carroll, Maiga, Chamakh.

QUOTES

Baggies' boss Steve Clarke:

“We are professional - we want to finish as high as we can.

“The next target for us is to get more points than we did in the last two seasons, which is 47. If we equal that on Saturday it will give us seven games to better it.

“We want to finish as high up the league as we can and no-one should question our commitment or desire to do well for the last eight games.

“It will be good to see a few old faces. Kevin Keen has got more of an association with West Ham than me as he was a player and a coach there. But I enjoyed my time at West Ham. It was good. The second season was difficult. But I learned a lot and it stood me in good stead for the job I am doing here.”

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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce:

"I want us to get safe and then if the contract's already there and ready to sign, I'll sign it, move on and get ready for next season. I'm not so sure we have to wait until we're mathematically safe. I think if we get to 38 points both parties would say that's going to be enough this season. Hopefully we can get to 38 points as quickly as we can, then we'll have a few games left to achieve more than 40 points if we can.

"It's been a little disappointing recently, not from a contract point of view but from a results point of view. I'm disappointed we haven't already clinched safety because I think we should have done based on our performances. Our lack of concentration and, on some occasions, our lack of goals has made us linger on this subject.

"We all want to get it out of the way, done and dusted and focus on hopefully another season in the Premier League."

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MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 9/4, West Ham United Win: 5/4, Draw: 11/5.

First Goalscorer

Carroll 5/1, Carlton Cole 6/1, Lukaku 6/1, Nolan 7/1, Chamakh 15/2, Long 15/2, Vaz Te 8/1, Maiga 8/1, Odemwingie 9/1, Jarvis 10/1, Joe Cole 10/1, Fortune 10/1, Rosenberg 11/1, Thomas 14/1, Taylor 14/1, Collison 14/1, Dorrans 16/1, Brunt 16/1, Tomkins 20/1, Diame 20/1, Mulumbu 20/1.

REFEREE

Andre Marriner (West Midlands)

Birmingham-born Marriner will be taking charge of an Albion game for the first time.

Marriner last took charge of a West Ham game in January, overseeing their 5-1 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. He also officiated West Ham's 3-1 defeat against Spurs at White Hart Lane in November.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the game are completely sold out.

WEATHER FORECAST

Mostly cloudy but dry, 6°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST LEAGUE MEETING AT UPTON PARK

West Ham United 2-2 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Wednesday 10 November 2010, 7:45pm

West Ham United: Green, Ilunga, Gabbidon, Upson, Jacobsen, Boa Morte (Kovac 54), Parker, Dyer, Barrera (McCarthy 88),Cole (Obinna 76), Piquionne. Subs not used: Stech, Reid, Tomkins, Spector.

Goalscorers: Parker 43, Piquionne 50 (pen)

Booked: Boa Morte 37 (foul), Kovac 73 (foul), Gabbidon 88 (foul)

Albion: Carson, Cech, Pablo, Tamas, Reid, Scharner, Brunt, Thomas (Barnes 75), Dorrans (Cox 67), Morrison,Odemwingie (Fortune 88). Subs not used: Myhill, Tchoyi, Shorey, Zuiverloon.

Goalscorers: Odemwingie 38 (pen), Ibanez 71

Attendance: 33,023

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)

West Ham were once again left frustrated and remain bottom of the Barclays Premier League as they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Brom at Upton Park. Peter Odemwingie had put the Baggies in front from the penalty spot in the 38th minute. However, Scott Parker smashed in a 25-yard effort to level before the break and Frederic Piquionne put the Hammers ahead from the spot at the start of the second half - only for Pablo Ibanez to deny Avram Grant's men a much-needed first league win since September 25.

Kieron Dyer, in for the injured Valon Behrami, looked lively during the opening exchanges as the home side took the initiative. However, the Baggies also passed the ball around crisply and Odemwingie sent in a low, angled effort from the edge of the penalty area which Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green gathered. West Brom broke quickly after defending a corner and had men over as Jerome Thomas charged down the middle. However, the midfielder elected to shoot, but could only fire a tame 20-yard effort straight at Green. West Ham continued to have plenty of possession but failed to find a telling pass with which to open up the visitors' defence. Carlton Cole headed a corner just over the crossbar but there were still too many stray passes from the home side - with Hammers fans growing increasingly frustrated. Green was alert to punch away Chris Brunt's curling free-kick from the right, with the follow-up shot deflected behind. From the resulting corner West Brom were awarded a penalty when referee Mike Dean spotted Luis Boa Morte had bundled over Steven Reid in a crowded penalty area. Boa Morte was shown the yellow card, before Odemwingie sent Green the wrong way to give the Baggies the lead after 38 minutes. Upton Park was left in stunned silence, but replays showed the referee was spot-on. The home side looked to get themselves on level terms before the break, but again lacked a decisive pass in the final third. However, out of the blue, midfielder Scott Parker smashed a 25-yard effort into the top-left corner as the Boleyn Ground erupted.

Danny Gabbidon's close-range header was held by Scott Carson, who then saved from Boa Morte at his near post as the Hammers continued to press. Boa Morte was somewhat fortunate to escape a second booking when he went in late on Graham Dorrans, but received only a stern talking to. The referee then pointed to the spot again in the 50th minute, this time in West Ham's favour as Dyer dashed into the right side of the penalty area and was barged over by Gabriel Tamas. With regular penalty taker Mark Noble out injured, Piquionne stepped up to fire the Hammers into the lead The home fans were in uproar as Parker was left in a heap in front of the advertising boards following a sliding challenge by Thomas which went unpunished. It was almost 3-1 when Mexico winger Pablo Barrera dashed down the left before feeding Dyer on the penalty arc, and his clever first-time flick released Piquionne on the overlap. However, the Frenchman's angled drive flew inches wide of the far post. West Brom substitute Simon Cox then almost had an immediate impact when he drilled a 25-yard effort just wide. Green then plucked Odemwingie's snapshot out of the air as the visitors looked for an equaliser. It was 2-2 after 70 minutes when Brunt delivered a lovely deep cross from the left which was met by Ibanez at the far post, who powered a header back into the opposite corner. The hosts sent on Victor Obinna and Benni McCarthy as they pressed for a winner, yet despite a couple of half-chances, West Brom held out for a point. West Ham, though, need a win against Blackpool on Saturday if they are to climb clear of trouble.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Baggies' boss Steve Clarke was assistant manager to Gianfranco Zola at United for two seasons between 2008 and 2010.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was Albion's player / reserve team coach for two years under Brian Talbot from 1989-1991. Dudley-born Allardyce made just one substitute appearance for the club.

Current Albion assistant head coach Kevin Keen made over 200 league appearances as a player for West Ham between 1983 and 1993. Keen also coached at various levels at Upton Park and acted as caretaker-manager on three occasions.

Baggies' left-back Liam Ridgewell started his playing career as a youth player at Upton Park.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Jeroen Boere, David Burrows, Peter Butler, Franz Carr, David Cross, Alan Dickens, Fred Fenton, Danny Gabbidon, Bobby Gould, Tommy Green, Sir Geoff Hurst, Harry Kinsell, Peter McManus, Frank Nouble, Nigel Quashie, George Reid, Charles 'Chippy' Simmons, David Speedie, Gary Strodder, Steve Walford and Chris Whyte.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS WEST HAM UNITED