PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Sunday, 7 February Kick-off: 1600 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live & highlights on Match of the
Day 2
BBC.co.uk
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Team news to follow later.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
The two most in form teams in the Premier League go head-to-head at Upton
Park as resurgent West Ham take on a Manchester United side, seeking their
18th English league crown, and second hat-trick of Premier League titles.
The Hammers are unbeaten in six top-flight matches; United in 12.
Gianfranco Zola's men are challenging for a fourth successive home league
victory; Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils are on target for a fourth straight
away league maximum.
The Upton Park club have won six Premier League matches in the East End; the
World, European and domestic club champions have won six on the road, but
none of those have been in London.
Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar broke Stve Death's Football
League record of 1,103 minutes without conceding a goal for Reading, when
the Dutchman kept his 12th consecutive clean sheet last Saturday (against
Everton). Van der Sar now needs to keep West Ham at bay for 75 minutes to
break Chris Woods' British record of 1,196 minutes, set between November
1986 and January 1987, when keeping goal for Glasgow Rangers.
West Ham have dropped more Premier League points to Manchester United than
any other club (62).
Distance between the clubs: 215 miles (347 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Going into this round of matches: 8th 33 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League
fixtures)
1. Undefeated in eight in all competitions; won six, drawn two.
2. Won four and drawn two of the last six in the Premier League, since a 0-1
home loss to Aston Villa on 20 December - their only defeat in eight.
3. Won seven and lost seven league games under Zola.
4. Won nine and lost nine in the top division this season, having scored 31
goals and conceded 31.
5. Three points down on this same stage last season, when stuck in 10th
place.
6. Won their last three home league games; against Stoke, Fulham and Hull.
7. Picked up one point out of a last available 12 against North-West
opposition.
8. Drawn their last three matches against 'Big Four' clubs; and not beaten a
member of the quartet Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United this
season (lost two, drawn three in that order), nor in eight matches against
them since a 1-0 home victory over Liverpool on 30 January last year.
Fixtures
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MANCHESTER UNITED
Club stats
Going into this round of matches: 1st 53 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League
(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League
fixtures)
1. Won their last seven in all competitions, and all but one of the last 13,
losing just one of 22.
2. Won the last seven Premier League matches, against Stoke (a),
Middlesbrough (h), Chelsea (h), Wigan (h), Bolton (a), West Brom (a) and
Everton (h).
3. Unbeaten in 12 league games; won 10 and drawn two since losing 2-1 away
to Arsenal on 8 November - their only loss in 20 top-flight outings.
4. One defeat short of 150 in league football under Sir Alex Ferguson.
5. One point down on last term and four points down on the previous season
(both title-winning campaigns).
6. Boast the tightest defence in the Premier League. More details
7. Scored in each of the last seven league games. Failed to score in one of
10 (0-0 away to Tottenham on 13 December), and missed the target in only two
Premier League matches all season; the other being 0-0, away to Villa on 22
November.
8. Not conceded in 18 hours 42 minutes of Premier League football since
Samir Nasri scored Arsenal's second in the Gunners' odd goal in three home
victory on 8 November.
9. Not won in three league visits to London this season, and claimed just
one victory in nine top-flight trips to the capital; 0-3 against Fulham on 1
March last year.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
WEST HAM UNITED
Squad profiles
Robert GREEN is the only remaining player to have been on the field for
every minute of every one of West Ham's Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
Carlton COLE will be making his 150th career league appearance (Chelsea
Wolves, Charlton, Aston Villa and West Ham).
Jonathan SPECTOR will be facing the club where he started his professional
career, making eight appearances (three in the League) for United before
joining West Ham for £500,000 in June 2006, after a loan spell with
Charlton.
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MANCHESTER UNITED
Squad profiles
Edwin VAN DER SAR is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Glove with 16
clean sheets.
Cristiano RONALDO has scored five goals in his last three Premier League
appearances against West Ham.
If on the field from the outset:-
John O'SHEA will be making his 250th club career start (Manchester United
and Bournemouth).
Darren FLETCHER will be making his 150th start for the Red Devils.
HEAD TO HEAD
Manchester United are pursuing a third consecutive Premier League victory
over West Ham, but the Hammers are planning on beating United for a third
successive time in the Premier League at Upton Park.
Since 1999, the Hammers have conceded four goals three times in games with
the Red Devils, five once, and seven once.
Home and away
League (inc PL): West Ham 37 wins, Man United 47, Draws 23
Prem: West Ham 4 wins, Man United 16, Draws 7
at West Ham only
League (inc PL): West Ham 25 wins, Man United 11, Draws 17
Prem: West Ham 2 wins, Man United 4, Draws 7
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
West Ham United 2-1 Manchester United
29 December 2007 - Ref: Mike Dean
West Ham scorers: Ferdinand 77, Upson 82
Man Utd scorer: Ronaldo 14
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Manchester United 2-0 West Ham United
29 October 2008 - Ref: Peter Walton
Man Utd scorers: Ronaldo 14, 30
REFEREE
Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)
Premier League referees' table
Phil Dowd's 2007-08 Premier League card count
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Di Michele determined to remain a Hammer
Sport.co.uk
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 05 February 2009 - 6:04 PM
David Di Michele has urged West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola to make his loan
move from Torino permanent by offering him a contract until the end of next
season. The 33-year-old Italian, who has scored four times this season, has
been in impressive form in recent weeks after gradually getting to grips
with the pace of the English game. Zola has already been told he will have
to cough up at least £750,000 to land the forward and Di Michele is
desperate to have his future sorted out before his current deal expires at
the end of the season. "My objectives are to play more, score a few goals
and at the end of the year to stay at West Ham," he said. "It's been a great
experience and I'd like to stay here longer. "It depends on me in the first
place because the better I do on the pitch, the more the club will want to
keep me. "I have adapted quite easily and am very comfortable here in
London."
Di Michele has played a key role in West Ham's eight-match unbeaten run and
the forward reckons Zola's managerial magic is the secret of the team's
success.
He added: "Gianfranco is a really great person and an excellent coach. This
is an important opportunity for him and he is making the most of it. "That
is why we should do what we can to help him do his job well."
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Larsson snubs Premier League return
Sport.co.uk
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on: 05 February 2009 - 6:24 PM
Henrik Larsson has rejected the opportunity to return to the Premier League
after agreeing to extend his current deal at Swedish side Helsingborgs. The
37-year-old striker, who had been linked with moves to West Ham and Bolton,
enjoyed a successful loan spell at Manchester United in 2007.The former
Celtic striker, who has won 102 caps for Sweden, is expected to put pen to
paper on the new contract in the coming days. "A few details remain in the
writing of the contract, but it should be ready in a couple of weeks," said
a statement on the club's website.
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Playing With A Smile
Just Like My Dreams
West Ham United midfielder Valon Behrami trudged off the pitch at the
Emirates Stadium last weekend feeling disappointed. Nothing unusual there,
one may feel, plenty of players troop off disappointed after playing
Arsenal. However, Behrami was disappointed because he and his team-mates had
managed merely a draw against the mighty Gunners, a measure of the progress
that he feels the Hammers have made since Gianfranco Zola took over as
manager at the Boleyn Ground. "It was a good result, but I think we didn't
play very well," Behrami told the gathered media. "We know we can keep the
ball better than we did today and we can play much better than we did today,
so it's a little bit strange, but the positive thing is the point we got."
So West Ham took their unbeaten sequence to eight games with arguably their
most resilient performance to date. Despite the off-field dramas – there has
seen growing speculation about the club's financial position circulating the
air waves, as well as five players leaving Upton Park for pastures new this
month – the team have blossomed in the face of adversity. Goals have started
to flow from the boots of resurgent pair Carlton Cole and David Di Michele,
while the back four of Lucas Neill, Matthew Upson, James Collins and Herita
Ilunga are developing into a resolute unit.
Behrami insists there is no mystery behind the side's impressive recent run
of results, putting it down to nothing more than good, old-fashioned team
spirit. "We are a good team," said the Switzerland international. "When we
work all together we are a good team and I think the most important thing is
our team spirit. Every single player is fighting together to do better every
day so our secret is our team spirit." That approach has paid dividends for
Behrami in particular, as the 23-year-old has been the embodiment of hard
graft in a West Ham shirt. Despite arriving in East London with a reputation
as a 'pretty boy', the midfielder's refusal to shirk a tackle and his
tireless displays have seen him become an instant hit with the fans.
Yet more than anything else Gianfranco Zola has encouraged his players to
play with smiles on their faces since his arrival in October last year.
Behrami admits it is that enjoyment factor which has seen the team escape
the throes of a relegation battle and put themselves in contention for a
UEFA Cup place, with the team currently occupying eighth place in the table.
"During the negative moments, when we lost four games in a row, the manager
was always saying positive things to the team," he added. "Every time he
would laugh with the team, so when we go to the training ground you enjoy
working harder. This spirit is stronger than before and I think that is his
secret."
Talk in east London has recently switched from discussion of a possible
relegation battle to the rather loftier dreams of European qualification,
but the Swiss thinks that it is far too soon for talk of such things. "I
think we shouldn't worry about looking at the table now," Behrami continued.
"We have to work hard every day and then maybe at the end of the season,
hopefully we will have a chance to get into Europe. But it's too early to
talk about it now - we have to carry on doing what we're doing."
And what they are doing is keeping clean sheets; three in row since Paul
Konchesky's wonder strike for Fulham in mid January. Bar a brilliant reflex
save in the 2-0 win at Hartlepool United and a 58th-minute stop from Jimmy
Bullard in the 2-0 victory against Hull City, Robert Green has enjoyed
superb protection from those in front of him. Such was the strength and
organisation demonstrated by his team-mates in Sunday's game at Arsenal, the
keeper only had to make routine catches and clearances despite the home side
seeing more of the ball. "It's a tremendous effort by everyone and it shows
if you don't concede goals you're not going to lose games," Green said. "The
main thing is we keep going and keep the momentum going in the team and
everybody is really encouraged by our recent run of form. We're playing as a
team, everyone in the team is a happy camper and everyone is playing well."
The 29-year-old Green will face another test when the might of Manchester
United visit the Boleyn Ground on Sunday, but Green is, understandably,
optimistic about the Hammers chances of making it nine games unbeaten.
"Confidence is good. The lads will get a rest before that game and Upton
Park will be rocking. They're [Manchester United] are on a tremendous run of
form but we're not doing too bad either. It's competitive so it should make
it a great game."
The draw at the Emirates demonstrated another side to Gianfranco Zola's
team, after they had impressed so much when going forward in recent weeks.
Although Green was happy to pick up the point in north London, he, like
Behrami, says the players were disappointed not to have created more going
forward. He said: "We took 20 minutes to get going really, but after a while
we started to play. Going to Arsenal and getting a point is pleasing. I
think we could have done more on the ball but we defended well and we
limited their chances when they attacked. We'd have taken a point at the
start but we're disappointed we didn't do ourselves justice in the
footballing sense and the lads feel that. Disappointed is not really the
word as we're walking off the pitch saying 'tremendous point' but we feel we
could have played more football."
New signing Savio got his second taste of the Barclays Premier League and
Green was impressed with the new No10's attitude in what could have been a
daunting occasion. "Everyone was working hard and when Savio came on he was
working hard and chasing. I'm sure it's a bit different from Brescia as
running out at the Emirates is a bit different from playing in Serie B."
Green cautions West Ham fans though, saying the youngster might not be ready
to make an immediate impact on the Premier League as he adjusts to the
rigours of the English top flight. "I'm sure he knows he's still got a lot
to learn but he's very young and I think he knows he's not the finished
product just yet," said the keeper.
That said, Savio has settled quickly into life at West Ham United and is
relishing the prospect of this Sunday's visit of Manchester United. The
Germany Under-20 star has made two substitute appearances for the club since
his move from Brescia Calcio last month and is understandably eager for
more. "I was very excited about being able to get on against Hull, where we
won the match in a magnificent way, and then against Arsenal, where again we
played a very good game and the team did a very good job."
In particular, coming on in last weekend's run-out at the Emirates with the
match finely poised could have fazed Savio, but he said Gianfranco Zola had
given him confidence. With the crowd singing his name again, the forward
entered the fray with 20 minutes to go and was a lively presence. "He just
said go on and show what you can do - the rest of the players also helped me
a lot and it was easy for me to get involved straight away. Everyone has
been helping me since I arrived, the manager, players and staff have helped
me settle in straight away and that has been very good for me. I am looking
forward to the next match against Manchester United and if I can play a part
in this that will be good also."
Elsewhere, several of today's newspapers have run with the story about
United extending the stay of Herita Ilunga. The Sun states the defender has
snubbed Liverpool to sign a four-year contract at Upton Park and the Hammers
will pay Toulouse £2million when the Congo left-back's loan runs out in May.
Ilunga's impressive performances had reportedly alerted Kop boss Rafa
Benitez but West Ham chief Gianfranco Zola said: "We really wanted to keep
Ilunga. He has done fantastically well." The article also claims Matthew
Upson, Robert Green and Scott Parker are all expected to sign new contracts.
Meanwhile, West Ham sporting director Gianluca Nani has shut the door on the
hopes of Sam Dalla Bona, who had spoken to West Ham coach, and close
personal friend, Gianfranco Zola with a view to returning to London. The
Italian midfielder, who spent four years at Chelsea before joining AC Milan
in 2002, offered his services to West Ham having recently cut short his
contract with Napoli. Yet Nani insists United have no interest in the
player. "I'm sorry to disappoint Dalla Bona's dreams, but there is no chance
he can play for us," Nani told Radio Kiss Kiss. "It's true that the player
has asked to train with West Ham but we still have to give him a response.
Technically he doesn't enter into our plans and anyway we can't even sign
him until July. If he came to London, it would only be to continue to
train." Dalla Bona, who joined Napoli from Sampdoria in the summer of 2006,
has failed to make a single appearance this season and rescinded his
contract with the club earlier this week.
Posted by Trilby at 10:32
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