Peterborough United host table toppers West Ham as they look to end a run of 7 games without a win in all competitions.
Peterborough United -Vs- West Ham
Venue: London Road
Date: 11th February, 2012
Kick-off: 3pm
Posh lost 1-0 due to a seemingly controversial penalty when they came up against West Ham at Upton Park earlier in the season. This is something they will be wanting to get revenge for.
West Ham travel to London Road as they look to continue setting the pace as Championship leaders, as we now come in to the most important part of the season.
TEAM NEWS
Peterborough United
Posh signed young Fulham left back Matt Briggs on loan for a month, so he could start Saturdays game. This gives Darren Ferguson the option of either dropping Craig Alcock (who has put in some good performances of late) to the substitutes bench, or moving Alcock to right back and leaving Mark Little on the bench.
If Briggs starts at left back, Tommy Rowe is expected to move into the midfield. Although, Ferguson has a range of options available to him now. He now has: Grant McCann, Lee Frecklington, Daniel Kearns, Ryan Tunnicliffe, George Boyd, Tommy Rowe, Joe Newell and Lee Tomlin all available and raring to go.
Posh improved greatly against Burnley, with Lee Tomlin on the substitutes bench. Many fans had been calling for this to happen, and they will also be hoping that this continues into Saturday`s game. However, forward Paul Taylor is a slight doubt as he had been suffering with an illness this week.
Ferguson has a choice of Taylor, Tomlin, Emile Sinclair and David Ball as to who starts up front, after other striker Nicky Ajose joined Chesterfield on loan in the week.
Vital Posh predicts the starting line-up could be:
Lewis
Alcock, Bennett, Zakuani, Briggs
McCann
Frecklington Rowe
Boyd
Taylor, Ball
West Ham
The Hammers have a wide variety of strikers available to choose from as they added Ricardo Vaz Te and Nicky Maynard to their strike force in the January transfer window. They teamed up with fellow strikers Sam Baldock, and top scorer Carlton Cole. So boss Sam Allardyce has plenty of options to choose from.
Kevin Nolan is suspended, so this could see a debut for young midfielder Ravel Morrison, who joined West Ham from Manchester United, for around £1 million in January. He is said to be one of the best players in England at his age level.
Left back George McCartney is expected to recover from a hamstring injury. But the Hammers will be without midfielder Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring) and defender Guy Demel (thigh) for the clash against the Posh.
PRE-MATCH QUOTES
Fans backing is crucial insists skipper Grant McCann. The backing of the fans played a huge part in Posh winning the League One Play-Off semi-final against MK Dons last season. ‘It was a brilliant atmosphere when Mk Dons played here that night,’ McCann said. ‘It`s the best I`ve ever experienced at the club.
‘London Road was rocking that night and there`s no doubt the fans helped us get through.
‘And there will be even more in the ground tomorrow so hopefully there will be even more noise. It`s certainly a massive game and the players are all looking forward to it.
Hammers boss Sam Alardyce is hoping his sides kicks on from their win last weekend as he said to the West Ham website: ‘We’re going to have enough pressure trying to win the Southampton game without putting extra pressure on ourselves to bounce back from Peterborough.
‘We exceeded all expectations from me last Saturday. Firstly, because we’d just been beaten by Ipswich and secondly because we went down to ten men after nine minutes.
‘To produce a performance of such quality and high endeavour and high belief was a fantastic effort by all the players who took part. In some cases it didn’t get the praise it deserved as anyone who wins with ten men should be delighted.
STATS & FACTS
West Ham have a 100% record against the Posh, having won each and every time the two sides have met.
West Ham beat Posh 1-0 at Upton Park due to a penalty by midfielder Mark Noble.
Head to Head statistics between these two teams can be found HERE.
A form guide to West Ham and Posh can be found HERE.
HOTSHOTS
Peterborough United
8 – McCann
7 – Taylor
7 – Sinclair
5 – Tomlin
5 – Frecklington
5 – Boyd
West Ham
9 – Cole
7 – Nolan
6 – Noble
PREDICTION
The away game at Upton Park was a frustrating afternoon for Peterborough as they struggled to beat the West Ham defence
West Ham had a lot of chances on that day, and were unlucky not to win by a bigger margin.
Vital Posh predict an end to end game, but unfortunately think Posh will be unlucky in a 1-3 defeat.
REFEREE
Chris SARGINSON takes charge of this clash. He has refereed 4 times in the championship this season, the last time was on new year`s eve.
He will be assisted by Simon Barrow and Danny Gratton.
The fourth official is John Farries.
UP THE POSH Follow me on Twitter: @TommLeaa
Photos/images courtesy of www.theposhpics.com
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