By Tyne-Talk
January 18 2014
Newcastle United travel to Upton Park this afternoon, where the expectation is that nothing less than a win is acceptable. West Ham have lost four, drawn one and won one of their last six games in all competitions. However they have only won four games all season and conceded 19 goals in their last six. Newcastle have also had a recent poor run having lost four and won two of their last six. However their recent performance against Manchester City was positive despite the defeat under appalling refereeing circumstances.
Predictably former Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll has regained his fitness in time for the game and is likely to be West Ham’s biggest threat on the pitch. Carroll came on as a second half sub in the Hammers win against Cardiff last weekend and got an assist.
West Ham will however be without Captain Kevin Nolan who will serve his final game of a four match ban, Ricardo Vaz Te (knee) and Winston Reid (foot). Guy Demel (concussion), Joey O’Brien (knock), James Collins (calf) and Ravel Morrison (groin) were all due to have late fitness tests.
Ryan Taylor (ACL) and Fabricio Coloccini (knee) are the only injuries for Newcastle United. Mathieu Debuchy completes a three game suspension.
Alan Pardews side should be raring to go after last week’s game and are expected to play with a point to prove.
Carroll said ahead of the game;
“It’s going to be great, I’ve got a lot of family coming down. I can’t wait to get back on the pitch after 20 minutes at Cardiff.
The next game against Newcastle will be great and I can’t wait. Last week was my first game back and I was a bit rusty – but I was happy to set the goal up at the end.”
Pardew’s response;
“He’s a local lad and obviously came through the ranks here. So we know everything about him and hopefully we can deal with him.
Andy is a presence who can get his game together quite quickly, it’s not based around fitness or sharpness.
He’s a big, aggressive target man and he is very good at that, and I would expect him to be as problematic if he starts as if he had played 10 games.”
Fact: West Ham have kept 9 clean sheets this season.
Fact: Newcastle haven’t scored in 280 minutes of Premier League football.
West Ham United |
| Newcastle United |
| ||
21 | Played | 21 |
18 | Points | 33 |
4 | Won | 10 |
6 | Drawn | 3 |
11 | Lost | 8 |
21 | Goals Scored | 29 |
30 | Goals Conceded | 27 |
Quote:Fact: Newcastle haven’t scored in 280 minutes of Premier League football.
Quote:Carys
Loïc Rémy's goal was the 22,222nd Premier League goal - on match day 22 of the 22nd season
