Manchester City and West Ham go head-to-head for the fourth time this season with both sides hoping to secure all three points and propel them up the table.While many pundits would have you believe that Sven-Göran Eriksson’s honeymoon period in charge of Manchester City is well and truly over, with the top five place that seemed so achievable during the first-half of the season slipping from their grasp, in truth it is not all doom and gloom.
The 1-0 away defeat to Everton in City’s last league match sent them tumbling three places to seventh, but their thirty-nine points is equal to fourth-placed Liverpool’s tally.
Though City have admittedly struggled in recent weeks, securing just two wins in their last nine league outings, they have encountered high-fliers Aston Villa, Blackburn and Liverpool and walked away with a draw. While the club’s fans would feel more at ease had their team managed to continue their winning streak at home, at the midway point in the season they will be satisfied with the club’s situation.
Their opponents on Sunday, West Ham, are looking increasingly capable of establishing themselves in the top-ten following their disastrous campaign last season, and six wins and four draws in their last thirteen games has seen them climb to tenth-place.
With a fit-again Dean Ashton in the side, who already looks as though he has found his match sharpness following a lengthy lay-off, and Anton Ferdinand growing in stature in defence, the East-Londoner’s prospects look increasingly positive.
It is surprising that Eriksson has not opted to foray into the transfer market to add to his strike-force, with Roland Bianchi eying a return to Italy with Lazio touted as potential suitors and Valeri Bojinov struggling to assert himself in England.
Darius Vassell has found himself in the starting line-up of late, and while the former Aston Villa forward can’t be accused of a lack of effort, he doesn’t offer the potency required for a side that has the defensive and midfield quality to threaten the top-five.
Such attacking inadequacy has added pressure to the midfield to weigh-in with goals themselves, and though the on-form Martin Petrov, arguably the most impressive left-sided midfield in the league so far, and the equally effective Elano have scored nine between them in the league, the fans will be expecting Eriksson to invest some of Thaksin Shinawatra’s fortune in a consistent goal-scorer.
West Ham will undoubtedly look to stifle the two midfielders, limiting the service from the left that has proven successful for the home side, and you have to go back to March 2006 for the last time this fixture contained more than two goals which suggests that a goal may be sufficient to win the game.
Interestingly, a quarter of City’s goals have come just before half-time, so Curbishley will instruct his men not to follow suit, although in three of the club’s last five league games, they have come from 1-0 down to win so the manager won’t be overly concerned should they go into the break behind.
City will have the psychological edge going into the encounter having defeated the visitors 1-0 on Wednesday in their FA Cup Third Round replay (the original tie finished 0-0), thus eliminating The Blues from the competition, which followed their 2-0 win at Upton Park in the opening fixture of the season. Curbishley will be keen for his side to avoid what would be there fourth successive defeat to City in the league as they look to overtake Portsmouth in ninth place, and the visitors have yet to lose in the nine games they have taken the lead which bodes well if they can score early.
West Ham’s treatment room is becoming increasingly vacated as the likes of Luis Boa Morte, Lee Bowyer and Julien Faubert, who all played a major role in Wednesday’s game, return and it is no surprise that The Hammers’ fine form of late has coincided with the availability of key men.
Man City remain unbeaten at home, with only their arch-rivals from across the city Man Utd and second-placed Arsenal bettering their record, and it is on such imperious form at the City of Manchester stadium that they have built their season around. West Ham, though, have not disappointed on tee road, with sixteen points from thirty a steady return for The Hammers, a more productive points-return than their home form which has seen them take the same number of points having played an extra game at Upton Park.
It’ll be a close encounter between the sides, and judging by comments Eriksson made to the press in the aftermath of their midweek victory over The Hammers, he is expecting his side to find their attacking flare once again as they reignite their bid for a top-five finish.
WHAT THE TEAMS SAY
Man City’s impressive young goalkeeper Joe Hart feels that the encounter will be decided in defence and is confident that the home side’s “awesome” back-line will prove to be the difference.
“When Nedum’s played he’s been as solid as a rock. Charlie’s been playing anyway so he’s just slotted back in,” the 20-year old said. “Dunnie (Richard Dunne) and Micah (Richards) are just awesome and (Michael) Bally’s been doing his bit too. We’ve got each other’s back, that’s the way it is and long may that continue.”
West Ham manager Curbishley is looking for his side to leave the City of Manchester stadium three points better off and continue their pursuit of the teams above them.
“If we can get a result on Sunday, we may catch one of the teams above us. We are pushing, we are looking to the games, and looking to try and get into that top six, seven or eight. Portsmouth are catchable and it is something that we have got to be looking at now.”
FORM
Man City
Match
Result
Date
Competition
Man City – West Ham
1 - 0
16/01/2008
FA Cup
Everton - Man City
1 - 0
12/01/2008
PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham - Man City
0 - 0
05/01/2008
FA CUP
Newcastle - Man City
0 - 2
02/01/2008
PREMIER LEAGUE
Man City - Liverpool
0 - 0
30/12/2007
PREMIER LEAGUE
Man City - Blackburn
2 - 2
27/12/2007
PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham United
Match
Result
Date
Competition
Manc City – West Ham
0 - 1
16/01/2008
FA Cup
West Ham - Fulham
2 - 1
12/01/2008
PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham - Man City
0 - 0
05/01/2008
FA CUP
Arsenal - West Ham
2 - 0
01/01/2008
PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham - Man Utd.
2 - 1
29/12/2007
PREMIER LEAGUE
West Ham - Reading
1 - 1
26/12/2007
PREMIER LEAGUE
HEAD-TO-HEADS
16 January 2008 – Manchester City 1-0 West Ham United (FA Cup)
5 January 2008 - West Ham United 0-0 Manchester City (FA Cup)
11 August 2007 - West Ham United 0-2 Manchester City
30 December 2006 - West Ham United 0-1 Manchester City
23 September 2006 - Manchester City 2-0 West Ham United
15 April 2006 - West Ham United 1-0 Manchester City
TEAM NEWS
Manchester City
Results of medical examination have revealed that new-signing Nery Castillo broke a bone in his shoulder during the midweek FA Cup clash, disappointing news for Eriksson who faces losing the creative forward for six weeks. Valeri Bojinov (knee), Daniel Sturridge (calf), Michael Johnson (ankle) and Emile Mpenza (hamstring) all miss out.
Last Starting XI (Vs West Ham) (4-1-4-1): Hart – Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Ball – Hamann – Ireland, Elano, Castillo (Bianchi 35), Petrov – Vassell (Gelson 81)
Subs not used – Schmeichel, Onuoha, Garrido
West Ham United
Luis Boa Morte, Lee Bowyer and Julien Faubert all came through the midweek clash unscathed and are expected to line-up for the visitors. Craig Bellamy (abdomen), Keiron Dyer (broken leg) and Bobby Zamora (knee) remain sidelined but the trio taking part in light training sessions and are improving each week.
Last Starting XI (Vs Man City) (4-4-1-1): Green – Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney – Ljungberg (Faubert 62), Bowyer, Noble, Etherington – Boa Morte (Cole 71) – Ashton
Subs not used – Wright, Mullins, Spector
PLAYER TO WATCH
Manchester City: Martin Petrov
The Bulgarian-winger has been one of the buys of the season, already hitting four goals, and seems to be at the heart of every Man City attack. Has pace to beat his man and possesses one of the best crosses in the league meaning West Ham will have to try and force him in-field if they are to prevent the 28-year old from creating openings for the City attack.
West Ham United: Luis Boa Morte
The Portuguese international looked sharp against City in the midweek clash and is a menace to defences when he has the ball at his feet. Is prone to look for free-kicks and penalties when he receives the ball in and around the penalty area, and with the quick feet he has, the City defence will have to be wary of bringing the 30-year old down.
PREDICTION
It could well be the drab affair we witnessed on Wednesday night in the FA Cup clash, with both sides looking to score first and then defend deep, but an early goal could ignite the game and allow the flair players such as Boa Morte, Elano and Petrov to illuminate the game.
Man City 1 – 1 West Ham
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