Daily WHUFC News - 2nd March 2013

Stoke City match preview
WHUFC.com
All the team news and background information ahead of Saturday's trip to the
Britannia Stadium
01.03.2013

STOKE CITY v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 2 MARCH 2013
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: JON MOSS
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Stoke City hoping to end a horrible run of form
on the road in the Barclays Premier League. The Hammers have lost their
previous five away matches since drawing 0-0 at West Bromwich Albion on 16
December. Overall, West Ham have won two, drawn two and lost nine of their
13 previous away league games.
• Stoke's away form has also not been great, with the Potters having lost
their previous four away league matches. However, that will be irrelevant as
their form at the Britannia Stadium has been good this season, where they
have lost just once in 13 league games.
• West Ham start the weekend in 14th - their lowest position of the season.
The Hammers dropped one place following Monday's 3-2 home defeat by
Tottenham Hotspur. Stoke remained tenth, despite going down to a 1-0 defeat
at Fulham on Saturday.
• A 2-0 victory for the Hammers would take them above their hosts on
goals-scored. Fulham, Norwich City and Newcastle United are all away from
home on Saturday and, should results go West Ham's way and they pick up
three points, Sam Allardyce's team could rise to tenth. Should Stoke win,
they would remain tenth.
• The two clubs have met just seven times in the Barclays Premier League,
with West Ham United winning three, Stoke City winning two and two ending in
draws.

Team news
West Ham United
• Big Sam could be without captain Kevin Nolan (toe) and his fellow
midfielder Mark Noble (arm). Nolan was injured in Monday's defeat by Spurs,
while Noble was hurt in training the previous week and missed that fixture.
• Right-back Guy Demel was forced off late on in Monday's game with a tight
hamstring, but could be fit to start at the Britannia Stadium.
• Left-back George McCartney has returned to training following a knee
ligament injury.
• James Tomkins missed Monday's defeat with a virus and is struggling to
shake off the effects of his illness in time for the trip to Stoke.
• Alou Diarra (Stade Rennais), Rob Hall, Ravel Morrison (Birmingham City)
and Stephen Henderson (Ipswich Town) are all out on loan.
Stoke City
• Germany defender Robert Huth starts a three-match ban after being found
guilty by the FA of violent conduct in last Saturday's defeat at Fulham.
• Left winger Matthew Etherington is rated as '50-50' to shrug off a back
injury by Stoke manager Tony Pulis.
• Former England striker Michael Owen missed last Saturday's defeat at
Fulham with a thigh strain but could return on Saturday.
• Former Hammers captain Matthew Upson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Danny
Higginbotham (Sheffield United), Matthew Lund (Southend United), Rory Delap
(Barnsley), Florent Cuvelier (Walsall), Jermaine Pennant (Wolverhampton
Wanderers), Maurice Edu (Bursaspor) and Mamady Sidibe (Tranmere Rovers) are
all out on loan.

Last time out
West Ham United
• West Ham United suffered a frustrating evening on Monday, when a late
Gareth Bale rocket secured a 3-2 Barclays Premier League victory for
Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn Ground. Bale had earlier given Spurs the
lead before Andy Carroll's well-struck penalty levelled things up before
half-time. Joe Cole then put West Ham ahead on 58 minutes and Matt Taylor
was denied by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris before substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson
bundled in a 76th-minute equaliser. It was then left to Bale to settle
matters, lashing an unstoppable 30-yard shot high into Jussi Jaaskelainen's
top corner.
West Ham United 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Barclays Premier League
Monday 25 February 2013
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel (Pogatetz 72), O'Brien, Reid, Collins,
Diame (Collison 84), Nolan (Taylor 36), O'Neil, Jarvis, J.Cole, Carroll
Subs not used: Spiegel, Chamakh, C.Cole, Vaz Te
Goals: Carroll 25 (pen), J.Cole 58
Stoke City
• Stoke City suffered their fourth consecutive away Barclays Premier League
defeat, going down to a 1-0 loss at Fulham on Saturday. Bulgarian forward
Dimitar Berbatov settled matters with a sublime volley into the top corner
on the stroke of half-time. Robert Huth escaped punishment after appearing
to elbow Philippe Senderos, but has since been handed a three-match ban for
violent conduct by the FA.

Last meeting
• West Ham missed out on the opportunity to move up to fifth in the Barclays
Premier League after being held to a draw by Stoke City at the Boleyn Ground
on Monday 19 November 2012. The Potters took a first-half lead when Republic
of Ireland striker Jonathan Walters converted from a well-worked corner
routine on 12 minutes. As the interval approached, Steven N'Zonzi rattled
the crossbar with a long-range shot. West Ham improved after half-time,
though, and deservedly equalised three minutes after the break courtesy of
Joey O'Brien's first ever Premier League goal. The Hammers dominated the
remainder of the game, with Modibo Maiga, Gary O'Neil, Guy Demel and Winston
Reid all coming close to netting a winner.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien (Demel 77), Reid, Tomkins, McCartney,
Noble, Diame, Maiga (Taylor 86), Nolan, O'Neil, Carroll (C.Cole 86)
Subs not used: Spiegel, Spence, Hall, Collins
Goal: O'Brien 48
Stoke City: Begovic, Huth, Wilkinson (Shotton 32), Shawcross, Cameron,
Whelan (Palacios 62), Walters, Adam, Etherington (Kightly 74), Nzonzi,
Crouch
Subs not used: Sorensen, Jerome, Jones, Upson

Background
• Saturday's game will be the 84th competitive meeting between West Ham
United and Stoke City. West Ham have won 33, Stoke 30 and there have been 20
draws.
• Stoke are considered to be the second-oldest professional football club in
the world behind Notts County. Formed in 1863, the Potters were also one of
the 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888.
• West Ham first faced Stoke in a Southern League First Division match at
the Boleyn Ground on 16 December 1911. The Potters won the game 4-3 with
William Kennedy (two) and Tom Randall on target for the Hammers.
• West Ham's biggest home and away wins over Stoke City both occurred during
the 1957/58 season. Vic Keeble bagged a hat-trick in a 5-0 Division Two
victory at the Boleyn Ground on 6 November 1957. Keeble also scored twice in
the reverse fixture - a 4-1 win at the Victoria Ground the following March.
The Hammers would go onto be promoted to Division One at the season's end.

Head to head
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
19 November 2012 - West Ham United 1-1 Stoke City
13 March 2011 - Stoke City 2-1 West Ham United (FA Cup sixth round)
5 March 2011 - West Ham United 3-0 Stoke City
27 October 2010 - West Ham United 3-1 Stoke City (Carling Cup fourth round)
18 September 2010 - Stoke City 1-1 West Ham United
27 March 2010 - West Ham United 0-1 Stoke City
Overall record v Stoke City (all competitions) W 33 D 20 L 30

Ten-year records
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted to Premier League via
Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points - relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via
Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
Stoke City
2011/12 Premier League 14th (45 points)
2010/11 Premier League 13th (46 points)
2009/10 Premier League 11th (47 points)
2008/09 Premier League 12th (45 points)
2007/08 Championship 2nd (79 points - promoted to the Premier League)
2006/07 Championship 8th (73 points)
2005/06 Championship 13th (58 points)
2004/05 Championship 12th (61 points)
2003/04 Division One 11th (66 points)
2002/03 Division One 21st (50 points)

Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Jon Moss.
• Moss will take charge of his second West Ham United fixture of 2012/13,
having previously been the referee for the 2-1 Barclays Premier League
defeat at Wigan Athletic on 27 October last year.
• Headteacher Moss was promoted to the Select Group of Referees in June
2011.
• He initially progressed through the Northern Counties East League and
Northern Premier League before being promoted to the National Group of
Assistant Referees in 2003.
• He took charge of the 2005 Conference Play-Off final between Carlisle
United and Stevenage and was then promoted to the National Group of
Referees.
• In 22 fixtures this season, Moss has shown 61 yellow cards and sent-off
one player.
• On Saturday, Moss will be assisted by Richard West and Peter Bankes, while
the Fourth official will be Stuart Attwell.

Old boys
• Stoke City winger Matthew Etherington made 195 appearances for West Ham
between August 2003 and January 2009, scoring 18 goals. He joined the
Potters on 8 January 2009, having moved to the Boleyn Ground from Tottenham
Hotspur five-and-a-half years previously.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Clive Clarke,
Bob Dixon, Sir Geoff Hurst, Lawrie Leslie, Nicky Morgan, Henri Camara and
Frank Richardson.

General information
• Tickets for the match will be available on the day of the game from away
turnstile 50 (cash only) at the Britannia Stadium. Click here for full
information.
• Saturday's weather forecast is for a cloudy day in the Potteries, with the
temperature at 3pm expected to be around 6C (43F).

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Baxter back in action
WHUFC.com
U18s goalkeeper Sam Baxter is fit again and hoping to earn his first
professional contact
01.03.2013

Sam Baxter was born to be a goalkeeper. Standing well over six-foot tall at
the age of 18, the Essex-born scholar has the build and frame of a
stereotypical goalkeeper. It would therefore come as no surprise to anyone
that he has always been the one to pull on the gloves, throughout his
career. "I played for Hadleigh Town, a Sunday League team where I live, and
somebody I knew contacted the Academy goalkeeper coach Jerome John and he
watched me play. He was obviously happy with what he saw as I joined West
Ham as an Under-15! "I've always been a goalkeeper. I'm too big and gangly
to play on pitch, so I was stuck in goal! It is good. I enjoy playing in
goal. Being the last line of defence and saving the day is as good as
scoring a goal. I can be the hero in every game."

The stopper will hope to be the hero again when West Ham United head to
Tottenham Hotspur's Enfield Training Centre for a Barclays U18 Premier
League Tier One fixture on Saturday morning. The match will be the third
meeting between the two sides since Christmas, with the Hammers winning the
reverse league fixture on 12 January before going down to an FA Cup
fourth-round defeat at the Boleyn Ground ten days later. Baxter, who labels
Joe Hart and David De Gea as his two favourite senior goalkeepers, was
awarded a two-year scholarship in 2011 and battled Jake Larkins for the No1
jersey in the Under-18s last season. This term, with Larkins now a
professional, he has established himself as the youth team's first-choice
stopper and started the Barclays U21 Premier League Group 1 fixtures against
West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers in November, only for injury to
halt his progress. Baxter snapped a tendon his finger in the warm-up ahead
of the U21 fixture at Norwich City a week before Christmas, ruling him out
for more than two months. "It started really well for me. I went to Russia
and Belgium in pre-season and played well and nailed down the No1 spot in
the youth team. I started a couple of games for the Under-21s and in the FA
Youth Cup at Aldershot, but then a couple of injuries have meant I haven't
played since around Christmas. "I was very pleased with how the start of the
season went. Now I just want to get back and kick-on again. It's all better
now, so hopefully I can start playing again. I dislocated a finger on my
other hand at about the same stage of last season, so I've been a bit
unlucky with them. My fingers are my trade, so I have to look after them and
make sure they are right."

Now he is approaching full fitness, Baxter will not be taking any chances
with his fingers between now and the end of his scholarship. "I strap up
every finger before every game as a precaution. It doesn't stop every injury
from happening, but it does make your hands stronger." The tall teenager is
now targeting regaining his place in the Under-18s and further Development
Squad starts before the end of the season. "I'd like to get back to playing
regularly and, if I do and I am playing well, I want to get back into the
Development Squad like I was before Christmas. I'd also like to keep some
clean sheets as well, as I didn't keep too many before Christmas!"

As a lifelong Hammer, Baxter knows it has been a while since the club
brought through a goalkeeper to the first team. At the age of 18, he knows
his time may still be some way off, but is determined to be the next stopper
to graduate with honours from the Academy of Football. "Usually clubs like
goalkeepers with experience and you don't really see goalies making their
debuts until they are 21 or 22. I'd go out on loan to any club to gain some
experience and then hopefully, if I ever get a chance at West Ham, I can
take it. "My No1 aim is to get another year, at least, and to continue
working hard to improve and see where it takes me. I hope to get some
Development Squad games here or go on loan - whatever the club has got
planned for me."

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'We need points on the board'
WHUFC.com
West Ham United defender Joey O'Brien is looking to turn performances into
points at Stoke City
01.03.2013

With just three games ahead of West Ham United in March, defender Joey
O'Brien is keen to make use of each and every opportunity to increase the
east Londoners' points tally. Sam Allardyce's men travel to Stoke City on
Saturday, aiming to record their first away Barclays Premier League victory
of 2013.
The Hammers were denied a hard-fought point by Gareth Bale's final minute
scorcher for Tottenham Hotspur last Monday night and 27-year-old O'Brien
wants to make up for that late sucker punch at the Britannia Stadium. He
told West Ham TV: "It's a massive game for us, especially as we were
disappointed with the result against Spurs, so we're looking to go to Stoke
and get three points. "The performance was alright on Monday night, but it's
a results business we're in and that's what the manager was saying to us
after the game. It doesn't really matter if you're playing well if you're
not getting points on the board. "We have 30 points at the moment and we
need to put more on the board as soon as possible. Saturday gives us the
chance to do that so hopefully we can take some up there."

O'Brien believes the way for the Hammers to improve their away record is to
make sure they remain solid and give nothing away at the back. "It's hard
going away from home in the Premier League and we've found it tough this
year on the road," he continued. "We're going there to get a clean sheet and
from there hopefully we can push on, create chances and get three points.
"We have to improve away from home, and from my point of view as a defender
we want to be as solid as we can be. We've been letting in a lot of goals in
the last few games and that's been disappointing. "We scored two against
Spurs, but we conceded three and if you keep on doing that you'll be in
trouble."

O'Brien broke his top flight scoring duck when he netted the Hammers'
equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Stoke at the Boleyn Ground in November,
although he admits that he would trade that strike for a three-point haul in
the Potteries. He recalled: "Earlier on in the season, in the first half
they did a number on us and played really well. We upped our game after
half-time and probably should have gone on to win the game. It was a good
night for me personally, I scored my first goal in the Premier League, but
hopefully somebody can get a couple of goals on Saturday and we can get
three points - that would be even better! "They have been around in the top
flight a while now. They have some quality players and the manager Tony
Pulis has done a great job with them. The place will be rocking, it's a hard
place to go and play football. The fans give them great support and get the
players up. "The game is always played at a high tempo there, but we're all
up for it and hopefully we can get the result. If we can start well and
maybe get an early goal, make them a little nervous, the crowd might not be
as loud and vocal for them. "We haven't really started well in the last
three games away from home. We need to start well on Saturday, that's
important for us, to get a foothold in the game and create chances from
there."

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Development Squad 0-0 Man Utd FT
The Development Squad earn a valauble point in a goalless draw with
Manchester United
WHUFC.com
01.03.2013

WEST HAM UNITED v MANCHESTER UNITED
BARCLAYS U21 PREMIER LEAGUE ELITE GROUP STAGE
FRIDAY 1 MARCH 2013
KICK-OFF: 7PM
REFEREE: CARL FITCH

iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST
Final score - West Ham United U21s 0-0 Manchester United U21s

90+3 - A clumsy challenge from Shaw hands the visitors one final chance to
put a ball in the box. Larkins bustles through the crowd to gather and there
goes the final whistle. A really professional showing from Haycock's young
men, who were resilient when they needed to be and never looked overly
troubled at the back. It's most certainly a valuable point gained and next
up it's off to Altrincham on Wednesday for the reverse fixture.

90 mins - Into the final minute here and West Ham are at least in the
visitors' half, right where they want to be. Spence has it in the corner but
his pass to Turgott drifts out of play. There will be two additional
minutes.

88 mins - McGinty has the beating of Turgott but with a whole host of white
shirts awaiting the cross, the full-back overcooks it and it sails over
everyone. Waste.

86 mins - Neither side are settling for the point here, but after Tuesday's
late collapse at Wolves, the Hammers will surely, at the very least, be
intent on protecting what they have. The visitors win a corner but there are
plenty of West Ham bodies to clear the danger.

83 mins - Here goes Lee down the right. He does brilliantly to cut inside
the full-back before measuring a centre to the back stick. McCallum and
Bywater are both looking to get on the end of it, but it takes a touch of a
Man United head and the chance has gone.

82 mins - It's Manchester United, however, who go close again, as Lingard
curls a free-kick just wide of Larkins' left-hand post. The Hammers stopper
was scrambling for a moment there.

79 mins - There's a double swap here for Haycock's side as Paulista and
Nasha make way for Kieran Bywater and Paul McCallum. An attacking change,
that, from the Hammers boss, who clearly has his eye on all three points.
McCallum was prolific in the competition's first phase, netting six times in
just eleven starts and here's hoping he can make a similarly telling
contribution in this evening's latter stages.

77 mins - Turgott slips it into Moncur who in turn fizzes it into the near
post. Seb Lletget has made the run and slides in, only to be denied by brave
goalkeeping as Amos smothers once more.

74 mins - West Ham look to counter but Lee plays it behind Turgott, who
cannot adjust his feet quickly enough before falling to earth. Manchester
United nearly make the most of the Hammers' carelessness as Lingard does
well to give Schlupp a sight of goal, who unleashes a firm strike which
flies narrowly wide of Larkins' near post.

71 mins - Manchester United are bossing it in terms of possession now, but
are not really making their dominance tell. The visitors make their first
change of the evening, as Tom Lawrence replaces Januzaj.

69 mins - Not much to report at the moment, it looks like the first goal
will settle this one, if indeed it arrives at all.

66 mins - Paulista is putting in a real shift here, but it's largely to no
avail. Full-back Vermijl does well to get to the byline, but the final ball
is a waste as it sails behind Larkins' goal.

63 mins - Meanwhile, Lee, who has barely had a sight of goal thus far, picks
the ball up and tries his luck with a measured drive, some 25 yards from
goal. Amos barely has to move as he makes the regulation stop.

61 mins - Larkins rescues the Hammers here, as McGinty's cross picks out
Lingard at the back post. He volleys goalward and Larkins flings himself to
his right, to palm the bally away from the bottom corner.

59 mins - Schlupp gets away from Ruddock, who then races back to deny him a
shot on goal. It's a strong, if fair challenge and penalty appeals are waved
away by Mr Fitch.

57 mins - Spence is in space again on the right and this time his cross is a
dangerous one. It's ricocheted into the path of Paulista but Amos always
looks favourite and dives off his line to smother.

55 mins - At the other end, Sean McGinty gets his head to a right-wing
corner, but it's rather tame and straight at Larkins.

53 mins - The Hammers enjoy a brief foray into the visitors' half. The ball
eventually comes out to Spence, whose cross hangs high in the night sky
before being gathered by Amos. Confident goalkeeping.

50 mins - Brilliant defending there from the exceptional Ruddock. He throws
himself in front of Januzaj, to block the No10's goal-bound drive. It
cannons off the former Boreham Wood defender and out of harm's way.

48 mins - Manchester United are seeing plenty of the ball but it's all front
of West Ham's back four. The Hammers are disciplined and well organised and
snuff out the danger.

46 mins - We're back underway here at the Boleyn Ground and hoping for a
more eventful second half.

45 mins- There will be one additional minute at the end of a disappointing
half. That minute comes ago without anything of note, as referee Carl Fitch
brings the first 45 to a close. Competitive but perhaps short of quality in
the final third. Goalless.

44 mins - As half-time approaches, it's difficult to see where a goal is
coming from. Turgott takes aim from distance but screws his effort wide. In
truth, neither 'keeper has been tested nearly enough.

41 mins - Turgott shows his pace down the right, but with precious little to
aim for in the middle his cross is easily deal with. Meanwhile, some neat
football comes to an abrupt end as Paulista fails in his attempt to pick out
Moncur.

39 mins - Manchester United having their best spell of the game here.
Larkins comes off his line to collect a left-wing cross, inadvertently
giving Dan Potts a whack in the process.

36 mins - Another opportunity comes and goes for the visitors. This time
it's Schlupp who races down the left and rolls it into the path of Adnan
Januzaj. The No10 should really do better from no more than 12 yards but
skies his effort well over the bar.


35 mins - There's danger here for the hosts, as Veseli squares it to
Lingard. Lingard gets his shot away and Larkins looks worried as it dribbles
wide.

32 mins - Ruddock dispossesses Larnell Cole and then drives purposefully
across the halfway line. He slips it into the path of Wellington, but it's
slightly behind him and he's crowded out on the touchline.

30 mins - Paulista plays it into Lee, who attacks the full-back, before
fizzing it low into the box. Paulista is hovering dangerously, but a
Manchester United boot ensures he doesn't get there.

27 mins - Nick Haycock will, no doubt, be very impressed with what he has
seen thus far. The Hammers are in the final third once more, but Lletget is
unable to get any purchase on his strike from the edge of the box and Amos
gathers.

24 mins - West Ham very nearly ahead. Lee plays it into Paulista, who
controls on his thigh, before driving across the face of goal. Amos is at
full-stretch as the strike goes agonisingly wide of the far post.

23 mins - Elliot Lee turns very neatly before popping it off to Shaw. Sadly,
it comes to nothing, as Shaw's return ball is too strong. At the other end,
a counter attack ends with Schlupp screwing a drive harmlessly wide.

21 mins - Turgott engineers room for a cross, but it's not the best and
behind the West Ham bodies in the box. Still, Nick Haycock's men are
certainly the more threatening.

19 mins - West Ham win yet another free-kick, as Paulista this time is
fouled. It looks to be overhit and the visitors head clear. The Hammers are
knocking on the door here.

16 mins - Jordan Spence making inroads down the Manchester United left.
Turgott volleys it into the path of Lletget who, from an acute angle,
volleys into the side netting. Chance.

14 mins - Sebastian Lletget wins a free-kick out wide and again it's Moncur
standing over the dead ball. His delivery is excellent, as he crashes it
toward the near post. Paulista makes the run, but again it's well defended.


12 mins - Jeffery Schlupp chases a through ball down the left flank. Pelly
Ruddock, however, is on hand to shepherd the ball behind. Quiet start, it
has to be said.

10 mins - West Ham keeping the ball very nicely, until Shaw tries to play it
into Paulista. The Brazilian is unable to control and it rolls through to
Amos.

8 mins - Wellington Paulista tries an ambitious effort from all of 40 yards.
Ben Amos, however, is alive to the danger and collects easily enough.

6 mins - West Ham win a free-kick on the near side. George Moncur whips it
in and the visitors do well to head it clear. There's a scramble in the box,
before Manchester United are awarded a free-kick.

4 mins - Manchester United having marginally the better of the opening
exchanges. Frederic Veseli tries his luck from 20 yards and his drive
flashes past Larkins' left-hand upright.

3 mins - Marnick Vermijl runs at Dan Potts but the Hammers youngster does
well to get in a toe to put it behind for a corner. The resulting corner is
headed up in the air by Frazer Shaw, before West Ham, eventually clear their
lines.

1 mins - It's the Hammers who get us underway, playing towards the Sir
Trevor Brooking Stand in this first half. Larnell Cole crosses from the far
side but it's easily gathered by Jake Larkins.

18:57pm - The players are out and there's a very respectable crowd in this
evening. In the absence of skipper Callum Driver, Jordan Spence will captain
the Hammers.

18:40pm - The teams are in and, as expected, Blair Turgott, on his return
from Bradford City, goes straight back into the first XI. Elsewhere, Frazer
Shaw replaces Ricardo Gardner at left-back.

West Ham United U21s: Larkins, Spence, Shaw, Nasha, Potts, Ruddock, Turgott,
Moncur, Paulista, Lletget, Lee. Subs: Bywater, Baxter, McCallum, Miles,
Onariase.

Manchester United U21s: Amos, Vermijl, McGinty, Veseli, Thorpe, Fornasier,
Cole, Ekangamene, Schlupp, Januzaj, Lingard. Subs: Blackett, Sutherland,
Lawrence, Van Velsen, James.

Good evening and welcome to the Boleyn Ground for this evening's Barclays
Under-21 Premier League Elite Group clash featuring West Ham United and
Manchester United.
Nick Haycock's Development Squad head into tonight's fixture hoping for an
upturn in fortunes, having been edged out by both Southampton and
Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last two outings.
The Hammers welcome back Blair Turgott and Paul McCallum from their loans at
Bradford City and AFC Wimbledon respectively, both of whom are included in
this evening's matchday squad. The pair have netted eight times between them
for the U21s this term, prior to joining their npower League Two clubs.

Turgott helped Bradford City to reach the Capital One Cup final and was on
the bench at Wembley in last Sunday's 5-0 defeat by Aston Villa. McCallum
enjoyed a fine time at Wimbledon, being nominated for the npower League Two
Player of the Month award for January after scoring four goals in four
games.
Manchester United, meanwhile, visit east London on the back of Monday's
hard-fought 1-0 win over ten-man Liverpool at Langtree Park. Italian
defender Michele Fornasier settled an ill-tempered affair, firing home from
close range in second-half injury time.

Warren Joyce's side sit a point above West Ham in fourth, having collected
seven points from their four Elite Group fixtures.
We will have team news for you shortly, while there will be live text
updates from kick-off at 7pm.

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Stoke v West Ham
KO 15:00
1 March 2013
Last updated at 12:40
By Alistair Mann
BBC Match of the Day commentator

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday, 2 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMT

Stoke's Robert Huth begins a three-game ban, while Matthew Etherington and
Michael Owen will undergo fitness tests on respective back and thigh
problems.
Midfielder Steven Nzonzi could play wearing a protective mask, having broken
his nose against Fulham.

West Ham will be without captain Kevin Nolan, who has a broken toe. Mark
Noble is doubtful with an arm problem which saw him miss the Spurs defeat,
but Guy Demel has overcome an injury sustained in that game.

MATCH PREVIEW

This is a meeting of two sides whose impressive work in the first half of
the season has offset their enormous disappointments so far in the second.
At the start of this campaign, both teams will have set themselves the
initial aim of the 40-point safety mark - a target they were well on the way
to achieving at the turn of the year. "West Ham have been very average on
the road and they have had some poor results. The same could be said of
Stoke too, and these are two sides that rely on their home form a lot."
Stoke sat on 28 points after 19 games, the Hammers on 26 points after 20,
and both may have allowed themselves the thought of a readjustment upwards
regarding their ultimate final position - but that was before the recent rot
set in. Both will come into this game having earned just four points from
their last seven matches, accentuating the significance of their duel.
Though neither have genuine relegation concerns, residing nine and six
points above the drop zone respectively, their equally alarming blips do
need arresting - and quickly. Scoring goals has remained an issue for both
managers - only QPR have registered fewer than Stoke, while both West Ham
and the Potters share the unwanted distinction as the least prolific clubs
on their travels with just eight apiece. Stoke will therefore be glad they
have home advantage, particularly so as 24 of their 33 points have so far
been accumulated at the Britannia - a venue at which only Chelsea have
managed to gain three points as a visitor. Only eight of the Hammers' 30
points have come on their travels - they're on a current run of eight games
without victory away from Upton Park, suffering five successive reverses in
the process. Everything would seem to point to a home win, yet historically
West Ham have enjoyed their visits to the Potteries, scoring on their last
13 trips there and losing just once in the last seven. Perhaps the wise
money therefore will be on a draw.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

Stoke have won just one of their last seven home league matches against West
Ham (W1, D2, L4).
Stoke's 1-1 draw at West Ham in November set a new club record of 16 away
Premier League matches without a win.

Stoke
Stoke have lost just one league match at the Britannia Stadium this season -
against Chelsea in January.
Only Manchester City and Liverpool have kept more clean sheets than Stoke,
but the Potters have now gone nine matches in a row without one.
Stoke have won just one of their last eight league matches (W1, D2, L5).
Only QPR have scored fewer Premier League goals than Stoke this season. The
Potters have failed to score in 11 league matches this season, the
joint-highest total in the top flight.

West Ham
West Ham haven't won away in the league since 11 November, earning just one
point from the last 24 available on the road. Only QPR and Reading have a
worse away record in this season's Premier League.
The Hammers haven't lost six consecutive away games since a Premier League
record-equalling eight-match losing streak from August to December 2006.
They have scored each of their last nine Premier League penalties.

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Stoke City v West Ham United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 1st March 2013
By: Preview Percy

Next it's up the M1 and whichever of the versions of the M6 you prefer to
the Potteries where our hosts will be Stoke City. Kick-off is the
traditional 3.00pm at the Britannia Stadium.

At the time of writing the Avram Grant Rest Home's for the Bewildered's
resident trainspotter is shaking his head muttering something about
"overhead line problems on the West Coast Main Line. While there's a day to
go before the match these things have a habit of taking time to sort out so
don't be surprised if your locomotive isn't in the right place when you turn
up at Euston tomorrow. Worse still they might have run out of supplies of
Gentleman's Relish in the Dining Car. Check before you leave as usual.

Our opponents sit in 10th spot with 33 points from 27 matches. They've
picked up four points from their last six, courtesy of a home win against
Reading (2-1) and a 2-2 home draw with Wigan. They lost the remaining four
including away defeats at Fulham (1-0), Arsenal (1-0) and Swansea (3-1) and
a home reverse to Chelsea (0-4).

They picked up two players in the winter window, though one of them seems to
have gone missing in the post, or possibly he's using the West Coast Main
Line to get there. Keeper Jack Butland has been signed on a deal rising to a
possible £3.5m but the 19 year-old will see out the season at St Andrews.
All of which means that one of current first choice Begovic or Sorenson is
likely to be seeking pastures new come the summer.

The other new boy was US international Brek Shea. Shea, whose name suggests
one of those macho type actors who appears in one of those innumerable
spin-off spy shows that Sky seems to fill its schedules with (NCIS
Broadstairs cannot be far away), is something of an artist. Not with the
ball as such but in a slightly more literal sense since he is a painter.
Having had a look at his "Left Foot Studio" website his daubings aren't
exactly my cup of tea but if the football thing doesn't work out the Avram
Grant Rest Home for the Bewildered could do with a lick or two of paint.
He'd have to bring his own ladders though. He's made just the one sub
appearance so far this season since his arrival.

Missing from their defence will be central defender Robert Huth. Huth is a
perennial thug whose recent assault on Fulham's Senderos has bought him a
three match ban. Presumably the disciplinary authorities have mislaid the
details of previous hearings involving, well I hesitate to use the word
"player". Had they looked close enough I'm sure that they will have seen the
words "warned as to his future conduct". Stoke decided not to appeal the ban
for fear of activating the lengthier ban that Huth deserves. "He let himself
down" remarked manager Pulis, presumably referring to Huth's getting caught
on camera rather than the assault itself.

Another one we won't see will be Matt Upson. The ex-Hammer – and another
victim of a cowardly Huth assault – is away at Brighton on loan to the end
of the season whereupon his contract will be up, suggesting that he may
already have played his last game for Stoke.

This will leave Ryan Shawcross as the senior partner in the centre of
defence. Shawcross has the broken legs of at least two opponents on his
record over his career, which, in the eyes of manager Pulis makes him
suitable material for the club captain role. Clearly the concept of
"role-model" is not one that has reached the Potteries then.

Up front, I'm wondering whether Jon Walters has been walking under any of
Brek Shea's ladders or whether it's just the inclusion of the number 13 in
the year. Walters (OG) (to give him his full name) scored twice for Chelsea
in Stoke's 4-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge and missed a penalty. He also
missed against Fulham last weekend. Still Walters should cheer up – two
goals at Chelsea is better than Torres usually manages. Walters was on
target at the Boleyn earlier this season, though the goal owes more than an
assist to the officials who managed to miss the Potters' usual illegal
tactics at set pieces. Strange that – I mean it's not as if it should come
as a surprise to match officials is it?

Ex-Hammer Matty Etherington is a doubt – a bad back is the word on the
street. That's a "bad back" rather than "backed something bad" as might have
been the case in years gone by. Another doubt is Michael Owen – already a
peripheral player in the Stoke set-up, he has a hip/thigh injury, presumably
gained from poor posture when aiming a punch at Arsenal's Arteta the other
week. Didn't take him long to get the hang of the Stoke way did it?

Us? I thought we were worth a point the other night – only the simian Bale
and the usual lily-livered performance from Howard Webb in refusing to
dismiss Dembele prevented that. We have a number of injury concerns to think
about. Demel has a "knock" which translates as a tight hamstring but might
be ok. Noble's elbow continues to cause concern whilst whatever virus ails
James Tomkins is still bugging him. Notably, Kevin Nolan has a broken toe, a
result of the stamp from Dembele that ought to have seen a straight red on
Monday night. On the brighter side, Linda has been back in training this
week and, if fit, ought to be a better bet than Pogatetz on the left, where
Lennon failed to do anything until the Austrian arrived.

There are two things we need to do here. Firstly (and this is something that
I seem to write for every away game) we need to think about going forward
occasionally. Nobody's saying that we should go out all hell-for-leather and
gung ho, but sitting back and waiting for stuff to happen doesn't work. Ask
Bradford.

The second thing we need to do is keep our composure. There is going to be a
lot going on off the ball and reactions (such as, for example the
understandable but costly kicking of Kebe at Reading last season) will need
to be tempered. The non-appearance of Huth in this respect will be a plus
but they still have a number of players capable of what the tv guys
euphemistically refer to as "the dark arts" so cool heads required all
round.

This is a tough place to get though there is a strange omen – I remember us
getting a late winner up there in the second tier a few years back on the
day that they elected the last Pope. Just as he resigns we play them away
again. Coincidence? Or evidence, perhaps of some strange forces in the
universe beyond the understanding of mere mortals. Coincidence, obviously.
To believe anything else you'd have to be the sort of person who phones up
those hilarious psychic tv channels that some of the old biddies here at the
rest home love to watch (well Marjorie I've spoken with your late departed
Albert and he warns you that you're about to get a really large phone bill
and he hasn't left any money hidden for you to pay it).

Our away form is such that settling for a point at the moment would be an
improvement so, with that in mind I'll be placing the funds that we were
going to bet on that Scottish cardinal to become the next pope (£2.50) on a
1-1 draw.

Enjoy the game!

When Last We Met at the BritanniaLost 2-1 FA Cup March 2011) The performance
of referee Mike Jones in this one was such a disgrace he ought to have been
banned from football for life. Instead, as usual the FA punished Avram Grant
for mentioning the fact. Meanwhile the dishonest Jones continues to ruin
matches up and down the country.

Referee: Jon Moss. Culture Club drummer last seen handling our 2-1 defeat up
at Wigan. Will need to be a darn sight more aware of his responsibilities
than Webb was on Monday.

Danger Man:Jon Walters – top scorer and if you're ever in the middle of a
bad run we're usually the ones to be playing.

Daft Fact Of The Week: Whilst looking for something vaguely interesting
about the cultural vacuum that is Stoke On Trent I happened across the
following rant from the "knowhere" website (Ed's note: Stoke fans please
note that these views are not necessarily ours before you get all upset –
we're just reprinting them because, well they're funny!):

" Where to start? Me and my girlfriend came to Stoke to study at Uni, and
have spent nearly 2 years here. We are moving (finally!), as far away from
this f***ing shithole as possible. 1st. The people. The majority of the
people in Stoke are stupid, ignorant, illiterate, fat, sweaty, obnoxious
mother f***ers. The rest are just the same but to a lesser degree. They have
no get up and go, other wise they would have gotten their arses out of here
a long time ago. They obsess over oatcakes (taste like shit), pottery (100
years ago, move on), football (both Stoke and Port Vale are fucking wank),
Robbie (twat), and just how good they think the area is. Wake up!! No
business in their right mind would move here, and they don't, the people are
too fucking idle to get of their arses and work.

2nd. The area. Instead of Stoke being the city centre, it is actually
Hanley. What the f***?!!! Stoke is home to some of the biggest slums in
Europe, mainly Burslem (ghost town), Chell Heath (the Marines need to go in
and just massacre everyone there. Every person in that place is a worthless
piece of shit), etc, etc. I have never seen so little green anywhere before.
When you drive back to Stoke from anywhere else, I swear that it actually
gets greyer.

The Council. WORST COUNCIL IN THE U.K. (actually voted the worst council in
the U.K). Absolutely f***ing useless. The people on the end of the phone
struggle to put sentences together, the most unprofessional organization I
have ever dealt with. Actually managed to charge us for two properties at
the same time. Official letters were riddled with spelling mistakes, grammar
f*** ups, etc. They struggle to even empty the bins properly, and they are
one of, if not the only council in the whole of the U.K. not to recycle. The
roads are in a f***ing terrible condition, half paved in some areas. They
got a grant from the government, but instead of spending it actually doing
the area up, they decided to erect shite sculptures everywhere. Idiots. It
is no wonder businesses are leaving here faster than you can say, "f***ing
Stokies".

Services. The bus station is a slum, a prime location for all of the inbred
genetic retards to hang out in. Satuday night in Hanley is shit. It is O.K
on a Monday, but that is because the majority of people up there on Monday
are students (who are not from Stoke). Every other night, it consists of
twats running around, trying to mate with the fat pigs around here they call
women.

Conclusion. Do not move here. Do not visit. If you can drive around it, do.
It may take a bit more time, but it'll be worth it. I would even consider
erecting a fence, 12 foot or above, so that no one can get in, and more
importantly, no Stokies can get out.

Clearly the Stoke On Trent head of tourism isn't that happy in his work. NB
There are replies on the "knowhere" website that were even funnier but 1000
words of semi-literate text speak were just too difficult to post even if we
hadn't been laughing uncontrollably at the time!

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West Ham assistant boss Neil McDonald braced for Stoke test
Last Updated: March 1, 2013 1:34pm
SSN

West Ham assistant manager Neil McDonald is braced for a tough encounter
against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. The Hammers, who lost on
Monday night to a last-gasp Gareth Bale strike in the 3-2 defeat by
Tottenham, are looking to bounce back from that disappointment. But Sam
Allardyce's men have just eight points from 13 away games all season and
have lost their last five on the road in the Premier League. And McDonald,
who assumed pre-match media duties in the absence of Allardyce, knows the
visitors will have to be switched on throughout the game. "It's a stern
test," said McDonald. "I think they're very well organised. They're quite
direct with the way they play, into the forwards, then knocking it down and
getting it wide. "We have to deal with crosses, we have to deal with
knock-downs as well. Hopefully with our game and our game plan we can give
them a little bit of a test as well. "We're looking forward to the game and
we're trying to put right what we haven't done over the last four or five
away games." Stoke have one win in five matches and McDonald hopes the
Hammers can extend the hosts' poor run, having pushed high-flying Tottenham
close on Monday night only for Gareth Bale to score twice to seal a 3-2
victory for his side at Upton Park. McDonald added: "You always have to take
something positive. Apart from Gareth Bale on Monday scoring two goals we've
acquitted ourselves really well against a top-four team. "If we do that away
from home, we've got every chance of getting a result."

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Stoke home form provides tough test for poor travellers West Ham
Last Updated: March 1, 2013 12:39pm
SSN

Stoke City will look to exploit their strength at home and West Ham United's
weakness on the road when Sam Allardyce's side visit the Britannia Stadium
on Saturday. Stoke have lost only once on their own patch so far this season
and can be confident of preserving that record against a West Ham team that
have lost nine games and won only twice away from Upton Park in 2012-13.
That includes five consecutive away defeats, in which the Londoners have
conceded 14 goals - almost three per game. However, there are reasons to be
believe they can get a result. Firstly, Allardyce's men looked good for long
periods of their 3-2 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Monday night and
would have got a draw, if not a win, had it not been for two individual
goals from Gareth Bale. And the manager can also point to the fact that, on
paper, Stoke are in the same poor form as his own team, with both sides
having lost five of their last seven matches. But he will also be instilling
into his players the fact that they are now only six points above the
relegation zone and while do not appear to be in immediate danger, a
continuation of their poor form could see them dragged into a battle against
the drop. Stoke, on the other hand, have been cut adrift in the chase for
European qualification and will instead be concentrating on collecting
enough points to consolidate their place in the top 10 come the end of the
season. They will also be conscious of the need to turn draws into wins,
having been held in 12 of their 27 league games so far this season.

Stoke City
Last 6
1-0
2-1
1-0
2-2
0-1
3-1

Stoke will be missing Robert Huth as the centre-back begins the three-match
suspension handed to him earlier this week by the FA relating to an incident
in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Fulham, where he caught Philippe Senderos in
the face with his forearm. Marc Wilson or Geoff Cameron will cover in the
middle of defence alongside skipper Ryan Shawcross. Midfielder Steven Nzonzi
will be wearing a protective face mask if he features having broken his nose
at Craven Cottage, while winger Matthew Etherington (back) and striker
Michael Owen (thigh) will undergo late fitness tests.

West Ham
Last 6
2-3
2-1
1-0
3-1
5-1
1-1
West Ham captain Kevin Nolan is out of the game at the Britannia Stadium
with a broken toe. A foot injury was exacerbated in Monday's 3-2 loss to
Tottenham and West Ham hope his absence will be temporary, while his fellow
midfielder Mark Noble is doubtful with an arm problem which saw him miss the
Spurs loss.
Guy Demel is fit despite going off in the latter stages of the loss to
Tottenham, while George McCartney (knee) is continuing his comeback and is
unlikely to feature.

Opta Facts

West Ham's Jussi Jääskeläinen has made more saves in the Premier League than
any other goalkeeper this season (109).
Premier League games between Stoke and West Ham have averaged only 2.1 goals
per game.
Just one of Stoke's 26 league goals this season have been scored from
outside the area; a low for the Premier League.

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Big Sam sets Hammers survival target
The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
Published: 01st March 2013

SAM ALLARDYCE hopes he can discover the joy of six as West Ham make a sprint
for safety. Hammers boss Big Sam believes another six points will guarantee
Premier League survival. But he heads to Stoke today still harbouring
ambitions of breaking into the top half of the table in the club's first
season back in the top flight — even though they are only four places above
the drop zone. Monday's 3-2 home defeat by Tottenham left Hammers in 14th
place on 30 points.
But Allardyce's No 2 Neil McDonald in- sisted: "We might be only six points
away from relegation but we might also be only six points away from being
safe — 36-40 is the magic mark so we are not that far away. "We have still
got plenty of time to get those points. "If we can pick up some points away
from home, along with the form we've shown at home, I am sure we will be
fine."

"There is a positive staff at Upton Park, we are always looking on the up.
If you look back over the years, as a newly promoted team you would still be
happy with West Ham's position. "Publically the objective is to stay in the
league but privately we set a target from which we are not too far away."
West Ham go to the Potteries having lost their last six games away from
Upton Park. But McDonald added: "We've always looked up the table this
season and we've always tried to get into the top 10. "And with a good
result at Stoke we can push ourselves a little bit closer to that. "Our away
form hasn't been as good as we would have liked whereas our home form has
been really, really good — even though we've lost a couple. "We must address
our away form as quickly as we possibly can to pick up points. We need to do
that at Stoke. We've got to be a little tighter and a bit more physical away
from home and make sure we try and keep a clean sheet."

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Stoke v West Ham team news: Huth banned while Nolan's toe keeps him out
The Mirror
1 Mar 2013 11:43

Stoke will be missing Robert Huth in tomorrow's Barclays Premier League home
clash with West Ham as the centre-back begins the three-match suspension
handed to him earlier this week by the Football Association. Huth will serve
the ban after accepting a violent conduct charge from the FA relating to an
incident in last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Fulham, where he caught Philippe
Senderos in the face with his forearm. Either Marc Wilson or Geoff Cameron,
both of whom usually play at full-back for the Potters, is set to cover in
the middle of defence alongside skipper Ryan Shawcross. Midfielder Steven
Nzonzi will be wearing a protective face mask if he features having broken
his nose in the match at Craven Cottage, while winger Matthew Etherington
(back) and striker Michael Owen (thigh) will undergo late fitness tests. For
West Ham, captain Kevin Nolan is out of tomorrow's game with a broken toe. A
foot injury was exacerbated in Monday's 3-2 loss to Tottenham and West Ham
hope his absence will be temporary, while his fellow midfielder Mark Noble
is doubtful with an arm problem which saw him miss the Spurs loss. Guy Demel
is fit despite going off in the latter stages of the loss to Tottenham,
while George McCartney (knee) is continuing his comeback and is unlikely to
feature.

Stoke squad : Begovic, Sorensen, Cameron, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Whelan,
Nzonzi, Walters, Kightly, Etherington, Jones, Whitehead, Crouch, Jerome,
Adam, Palacios, Shotton, Shea, Wilson.

West Ham squad : Jaaskelainen, Spiegel, Reid, Tomkins, Collins, Pogatetz,
O'Brien, Demel, Jarvis, J Cole, Noble, Diame, O'Neil, Collison, Taylor,
Diarra, C Cole, Vaz Te, Carroll, Maiga, Chamakh.

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