Upton Park
Saturday, 25 August
Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match
of the Day. Featured game on Score and Final Score.
Team news to follow later.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
West Ham are chasing their first home point of the season; Wigan their first
on the road.
The Hammers are in pursuit of a second league goal.
Whenever these clubs have met for Premier League action, the side playing
away from home has prevailed.
CLUB FORM
WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
1. One of three clubs to have scored just one Premier League goal so far.
The others are Aston Villa and Manchester United.
2. Won five of the last six Premier League matches.
3. On the longest current run without a score draw in the Premier League of
16 matches. The last was 2-2, away to Newcastle on 20 January.
WIGAN ATHLETIC
Club stats
Fixtures
1. One of four clubs who could top the table on Saturday night. The others
are Chelsea, Everton and Manchester City.
2. Six points after the first three outings represents the clubs' best start
to a Premier League season. They have never accrued more than six points
after the first four matches in this league.
3. Won three of the last four Premier League matches.
4. Looking for three Premier League wins in a row for the first time since
accumulating four on the spin on 11 November 2006.
5. The 3-0 home victory over Sunderland last time out was their first win by
more than a single goal in 26 league outings, since West Ham were defeated
on 6 December 2006.
6. Will not meet any of the so-called "Big Four" until their eighth game of
the league season, when they entertain Liverpool on 29 September.
7. Awarded more penalties in Premier League matches this season than any
other club (two). Both of their spot kicks were converted.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
WEST HAM UNITED
Dean ASHTON needs a double to bring his career total of club goals to 100
(Crewe, Norwich and West Ham).
Kieron DYER is a double shy of 50 career club goals (Ipswich and Newcastle).
If he plays:-
Lucas NEILL will be making his 200th career Premier League appearance
(Blackburn and West Ham).
Craig BELLAMY will be making his 350th club career appearance (Norwich,
Coventry, Newcastle, Celtic, Blackburn, Liverpool and West Ham).
WIGAN ATHLETIC
Antoine SIBIERSKI has scored in each of Wigan's games to date - the first
time he has netted in three consecutive games.
If he plays:-
Paul SCHARNER will be making his 50th appearance in a Wigan shirt.
HEAD TO HEAD
Lee McCulloch's goal for Wigan in their 1-2 home loss on 25 March 2006 is
the only home goal scored in Premier League meetings between these clubs
(four meetings).
Home and away
League (inc PL): West Ham 4 wins, Wigan 3, Draws 1
Prem: West Ham 2 wins, Wigan 2, Draws 0
at West Ham only
League (inc PL): West Ham 1 win, Wigan 3, Draws 0
Prem: West Ham 0 wins, Wigan 2, Draws 0
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
West Ham United 0-2 Wigan Athletic
28 December 2005 - Ref: Steve Bennett
Wigan scorers: Roberts 43, Camara 45
REFEREE
Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
Premiership referees' table
Andre Marriner's 2007-08 Premiership card count
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Match Preview - West Ham United v Wigan Athletic - West Ham Online
Match Reporter - Wed Aug 22 2007
West Ham United v Wigan Athletic
Saturday 25th August 2007
Kick Off 3pm
Barclays Premiership
The warm welcome that had be reserved for Dave Whelan will have to be put on
hold as the outspoken Wigan chairmen has decided to give the game a miss and
sun himself in some far flung tax haven.
Maybe it's the fact he can't look Eggert Magnussen in the eye, after all
he's a man that had so much to say about West Ham since the Carlos Tevez
affair broke but when push come to shove and having dumped the oh so hard
done by Sheffield United out of the Premier League on the final day of the
season, he decided not to stand shoulder to shoulder after all with the
Blades and Fulham.
Or maybe it's the fact he's embarrassed by his behaviour. Here is a man
whose
company was fined millions by the OFT for price fixing on football shirts,
in other words ripping off the fans or his Rugby League side has been guilty
of breaking the rules once or twice. Hardly a man who can rightly be at the
front of the queue preaching about all being above board and fair I'd say.
Still I'm sure the few hundred Wigan fans that seem to turn up to away games
will take the message back that we West Ham fans have long, long memories
and unlike Chris Hutchings won't be forgiving and forgetting anytime soon.
So to the football and Alan Curbishley will be over the moon that in the
second half against Birmingham, his team finally found their stride and
kicked their season into gear.
West Ham were well on top by the time the Birmingham keeper presented Craig
Bellamy with to good a chance of winning a penalty to turn down and there
can be no real doubt Bellamy played for it but had every right to. It was
nothing less then we deserved after the referee missed a blatant foul on
debut boy Dyer in the first half that should have resulted in a spot kick.
In the absence of the departed Teddy Sheringham and Marlon Harwood, Mark
Noble grabbed the ball and scored with some ease, sending the keeper the
wrong way.
West Ham now need to keep that going and put the poor home performance
against Man City well behind them and secure the first 3 points of the
season at home.
"We are top of the league" well as for Wigan, after 3 games I'm sure not
many people before Saturday night would have had Wigan down as the early
season pace setters sitting on top of the Premier League for the first time
in their history. Of course it didn't last long with Man City making it 3
wins in 3 on Sunday to go top.
Still it's early days and Chris Hutchings, hoping it's second time lucky in
succeeding Paul Jewell as manager after his disaster at Bradford won't have
many easier games then a Middlesbrough who look like they will struggle and
miss-firing new boys Sunderland turning in a performance that lead to Roy
Keane ripping into them big time and calling unacceptable.
But whatever way you look at it, it's 2 wins in 3 games and I'm sure
Hutchings and most Wigan fans would have ripped your hand off if you'd have
offered that up at the start of the season.
Current form
West Ham United
MK Dons A Lost 2-3
Southend United A Won 3-1
Norwich City A Won 2-1
AS Roma H Won 2-1
Manchester City H Lost 0-2
Birmingham City A Won 1-0
Wigan Athletic
Halifax Town A Won 4-0
Barnsley A Won 2-0
Leeds Utd A Won 2-1
Everton A Lost 1-2
Middlesbrough H Won 1-0
Sunderland H Won 3-0
West Ham go looking for their first win of the season, whilst Wigan try to
avoid a second straight defeat on the road.
Top Scorers
West Ham – Noble 1
Wigan – Sibierski 3
History
West Ham in the league Won 4 Drawn 1 Lost 3
Biggest win at Upton Park 2003/4 4-0
Biggest defeat at Upton Park 2004/5 1-3
Last time we met at Upton Park
Barclays Premiership
06th December 2006
Wigan struck twice in seven second half minutes through Cotterill and a Jon
Spector own goal in what turned out to be Alan Pardew's last game in charge
at Upton Park. The 2-0 defeat was followed four days later by the thrashing
away to Bolton which lead to new chairman Eggert Magnussen firing the Hammer
boss.
Line Ups
West Ham United
Green
Spector
Ferdinand
Collins
Konchesky
Benayoun
Mullins
Reo-Coker
Etherington
Harewood
Tevez
Wigan Athletic
Kirkland
Wright
Boyce
Hall
Baines
Cotterill
Scharner
Skoko
Kilbane
Heskey
McCulloch
Betting
Home win 4/5
Draw 11/5
Away win 3/1
West Ham to win 3-1 12/1
Likely line ups
West Ham United
Green
Neill
Ferdinand
Upson
McCartney
Dyer
Parker
Noble
Etherington
Zamora
Bellamy
Wigan Athletic
Kirkland
Melchiot
Bramble
Granqvist
Kilbane
Valencia
Scharner
Landzaat
Koumas
Heskey
Sibierski
Prediction 3-1
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The view from the JJB - The Wigan View - West Ham Online
Match Reporter - Wed Aug 22 2007
What do you expect from Wigan Athletic this season?
At the very least survival, but on the other hand, I would be delighted with
that. We have the potential to finish mid-table but I think that is highly
unlikely unless we stay injury free for the season.
How did it feel to be top of the league, all be it for a short while?
Fantastic, first time in our history, although it'll be for longer next
time!
Who do you think will be your star men this season?
Emile Heskey will need to have a good season if we are to do well and I
think Jason Koumas will have a big part to play in our season.
Who do you think shouldn't be in your starting 11?
Possibly Kevin Kilbane, but only because he is a bit too attacking for left
full back.
How did you rate your performances so far this season?
8/10. Room for improvement but in the two home games, we have been superb.
The passing football that Hutch has brought to the team is producing some
quality football to watch. If only the T.V. networks hadn't decided to hide
us from the nations sets!
Has Chris Hutchings spent well?
Yes but where has our £20 million war chest gone? We've sold more than we
have signed…
Does the fact Chris Hutchings failed once before in taking over from Paul
Jewell bother you?
No, anyone who knows about Hutchings' time at Bradford will understand what
an idiot chairman he was working under.
This time is different and he is making all the right moves and noises in
the hot seat.
Do you honestly think Heskey deserves an England recall?
Yes. If Steve McLaren saw a replay of our final game last season against
Sheffield United he would have Heskey as his captain.
And the best part about Emile is, he plays like that every week.
If only he scored more goals…
You've slashed prices but the attendances are still below average at the
JJB. What more could be done to bring the fans in?
Yawn…
What was your view on Paul Jewell resigning after he had done so well?
I think both he and the club needed a change and hopefully Chris Hutchings
will be what we need.
In terms of PJ, he did a fantastic job for the club and I wish him all the
best. It is still a shock that he left though, you get complacent with the
same manager for six years!
What''s your view on the Carlos Tevez affair?
You should be in the Championship.
Your owner, Dave Whelan was very out spoken on the Tevez affair, even if he
wasn't always right in what he was saying. How do you view his handling of
the situation?
He was right in what he was saying. I don't think he pressed hard enough for
the correct prosecution.
How comes Wigan & Dave Whelan didn't stand shoulder to shoulder with Fulham
and Sheffield United when the case went to arbitration?
You'll have to ask the club that one. How come West Ham didn't get docked
points like every other club that broke the same rule?
Was it because Dave Whelan hasn't always been whiter and whiter like over
JJB being guilty of price fixing and Wigan Warriors breaking the rules?
Probably not, the Warriors took their points deduction like sporting men,
rather than children being let off.
How do you think West Ham will do this season?
Again, similar to our scenario but I think you could surprise a few people.
I wouldn't rule out a top ten finish.
What West Ham players worry you most?
Dean Ashton if he is fit and Craig Bellamy we struggled against his pace
last season for the Scousers.
How do you view West Ham fans?
I try not to.
What's you favorite flavor crisps?
Meat and potato, couldn't help but provide you ammunition for the stereo
type…
Prediction?
0-0 draw. It's about time we had a boring game between our sides!
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Robert Green fears for England career - Telegraph
By Andrew Sleight
Last Updated: 2:13am BST 24/08/2007
Robert Green is resigned to the fact his England career could well be over
after being ignored by manager Steve McClaren - despite the fact he is one
of the form keepers in the Premiership. After Paul Robinson's error against
Germany, the search is on for England to find an alternative. Portsmouth's
David James, 37, is next in line, but he is hardly a long-term option,
prompting suggestions that West Ham's Green could be in with a shout. But
Green believes he is nowhere near selection after being left out of the
latest squad. "The chances are slim," Green said. "David [James] is back in
the squad, Scott Carson will presumably play for Aston Villa at some point,
Robbo's been there as a permanent feature as he's been playing week in, week
out for Spurs. "Ben Foster will also come back at some point. So I am maybe
fifth or sixth in line. It's frustrating to be in an England squad one week
and seemingly doing well, then to be out the next, having supposedly done
nothing wrong. That is disappointing, but that is the way of the world."
Despite being overlooked, Green said he would love to play for England
again. "I want to be involved. You're either there or you're not and it's
disappointing not to be there. But trying to bring reason and logic into
football sometimes isn't the greatest thing to do. Sometimes you're better
off just accepting it."
Yet for all his philosophical outlook, Green realises he is powerless to
resurrect his international career. "It is disappointing to be dropped from
anything, even from your mate's Fantasy League team. But I can't control who
they put in the England side; what I can control is to continue playing well
for West Ham.
"If I carry on doing well, maybe it will happen. But whilst everyone else is
fit and playing I don't see chances coming along," he said.
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