This will be the eighth FA Cup tie between West Ham and Manchester United with the Hammers leading the head-to-head record 4-3. However, the last FA Cup clash between the two sides ended 6-0 in 2003 to Alex Ferguson’s boys, will it be different this time though with Sam Allardyce’s men winning eight and losing just two of their last 13 home games in the FA Cup.
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Nobody could have predicted West Brom’s genuine progress in the Premier League this season and the same could be said for their opponents this afternoon. West Ham have made an impressive start since being promoted from the Championship, however both sides have had a slight dip in form with the Baggies on three straight defeats and West Ham also losing three of their last four matches.
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It’s fair to say Andre Villas-Boas’ rebuilding project at Chelsea hasn’t gone to plan so far and the Portuguese tactician is currently teetering on the brink. On Saturday they face a West Brom side flying after some recent big victories. We look ahead to the clash at the Hawthorns and a number of other 3pm kick offs.
West Brom v Chelsea 3pm
Believe it or not, last Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bolton was Chelsea’s first in six matches and temporarily gave Villas-Boas some breathing space after recent reports linking him with the chop. However, Arsenal’s remarkable win over Tottenham the next day pushed the Blues back down to fifth, and Chelsea could find themselves three points off fourth should the Gunners win at Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime.
History shows us that Saturday’s game with West Brom should be a foregone conclusion, the west London outfit winning the last 15 matches between the two. The Baggies last win over the Blues came way back in 1979 and they’ll be desperate to set the record straight.
The 5-1 win over Wolves was followed up by a 4-0 thrashing of Sunderland, a rare success at home for Roy Hodgson’s men. West Brom are likely to field a similar team to the one that beat the Black Cats, with Jerome Thomas their only injury concern. As for Chelsea, trying to second guess Villas-Boas team selection has been nearly as tricky as trying to guess the Lotto numbers this year. Even so you’d expect Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba to start again.
West Brom are 3/1 to beat the Blues, with Chelsea 20/21 and the draw 5/2. At those prices the Baggies have to be worth a few quid.
Stoke v Norwich 3pm
Stoke’s European exit proved to be the perfect tonic to their recent struggles when it comes to winning games, comfortably beating Swansea 2-0 last Sunday. Before then the Potters hadn’t won a Premier League match since they beat Blackburn on January 2. However, without the Europa League to distract them, Stoke did what they have done best over the last three years, which is beating the teams they are expected to at home.
As for Norwich questions are beginning to emerge over whether the Canaries’ bubble has finally burst after back-to-back defeats. Granted last week they were narrowly beaten by Manchester United but the sucker punch of conceding such a late goal is bound to affect the team’s morale. Injuries are also beginning to mount up for Paul Lambert, with at least three players ruled out of the trip to the Britannia Stadium.
While the Canaries won’t shy away from the physical challenge Stoke present, the extra quality in the Potters team should give them an edge.Stoke are 10/11 to beat Norwich but a better bet might be for Stoke to be winning at HT/FT at 15/8.
Blackburn v Aston Villa 3pm
The news that Darren Bent will miss the next three months must be a hammer blow to Alex McLeish and Villa. The Villains have managed just one goal in the last three matches and, with Bent out injured and Robbie Keane back in America, options are thin on the ground. Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor will have to be McLeish’s main threats, a frightening proposition given neither have had good seasons so far.
As for Blackburn, this is a game they will feel they must win if they are to scramble out of the bottom three. Rovers didn’t put up much of a fight against Manchester City last week but have been better at home recently, beating QPR 3-2 last time out at Ewood Park. That result made it two wins from three on home soil and that improved run of form should continue against Rovers.
Blackburn are 13/10 for the win, with a 2-0 win and Yakubu to score first priced at 33/1 if you are feeling adventurous.
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Newly appointed West Ham boss Avram Grant is hoping to bring the good times back to Upton Park and is looking forward to the challenge of next season.
The Hammers struggled last season under the leadership of Gianfranco Zola and only managed to secure their place in the Premier League with a couple of games to spare.
Zola was axed by co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan as soon as the season was over and it soon became clear that Grant was the man they wanted.
Slaven Bilic, Sam Allardyce and Ian Holloway had all been linked with the job but Grant was always hot favourite to take the job as soon as his duties with Portsmouth came to an end.
The Israeli worked wonders under very difficult circumstances at Fratton Park and even though they were relegated after being deducted nine points for going into administration, he still managed to guide them to the FA Cup final before losing to Chelsea.
Grant admitted that leaving Pompey was always going to be tough after building up a great relationship with the fans and he will be looking to do that again at Upton Park with the Hammers faithful.
“I’m proud and honoured to be the manager of West Ham. It’s an exciting challenge and I’m ready to do my best,” Grant told the club’s official website.
“West Ham is a fantastic club with great fans and a history that is respected around the world. I’m already looking forward to getting to work with my players in July and preparing for the new season.”
Grant now has the job of making sure the Hammers are nowhere near the drop zone next season and if he gets the backing of the board, he should be able to get the club moving in the right direction.
The former Chelsea boss inherits a squad of talented players that boasts the likes of Matthew Upson, Carlton Cole and Scott Parker and he will be hoping to keep hold of his star trio before adding to his ranks.
The board have said everyone apart from Scott Parker is up for grabs but Grant will want to keep his key men if he is to get the Hammers pushing for the top 10.
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