West Ham United v Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough's recent upturn in fortunes seems to have come at an ideal stage of the season. Relegation rivals such as Bolton, Everton and Southampton have all started picking up points with regularity and without their recent run of seven games without defeat, Boro would surely be firmly ensconced in the drop zone and out of the FA Cup.
Instead, Steve McClaren's men are six points clear of the bottom three and in the quarter finals of the world's most famous knockout club competition and will be looking forward to this clash with West Ham with confidence, having overcome Fulham 2-1 at home on Tuesday night.
Boro's former West Ham, Manchester United and Inter Milan midfielder Paul Ince has been a key component in their revival. Most of the club's attacks have flowed through the veteran, as is highlighted by the fact that he is one of only two players at the club to have made in excess of 1,000 passes this term, the other being Jonathan Greening.
However, Ince is suspended for this clash against his former club, meaning that playmaking duties could be passed on to the more inexperienced duo of Greening and Carlos Arturo Marinelli or even loan singing Benito Carbone. Somewhat worryingly for McClaren though, no player at Boro has set up more than two goals this term.
By comparison, West Ham seem to have creative players in almost every position. Inspirational forward Paolo Di Canio has set up four goals this season, and he is supplemented by a midfield containing the likes of Trevor Sinclair, Joe Cole, Don Hutchison and Michael Carrick. Even right-back Sebastien Schemmel has got in on the act, having got forward down the flank to register three assists to date.
With so much inventiveness in the side, it is no wonder that the Hammers have created some 282 goalscoring opportunities this term - more than higher placed teams such as Aston Villa and Fulham and 65 more than Boro have managed. In fact, the Teessiders total of 217 shots in 2001-02 is the second lowest in the division and a key issue for McClaren to address during the remainder of the campaign, although Carbone and Alen Boksic look to be forming a useful partnership up front.
Despite their problems creating goalscoring opportunities, Middlesbrough do seem well equipped to avoid relegation, with the defensive partnership of former Aston Villa team-mates Ugo Ehiogu and Gareth Southgate a key to the club's fortunes. And if that duo can remain steadfast on Saturday and stifle the threat of Di Canio and his colleagues, Boro should manage to claim a point from this trip to London.
Rupert Webster
Match referee: C. Foy
Chris Foy takes charge of his third Premiership game this season; the St Helens official has already officiated in two goalless draws already so what chance this contest will also end without a goal.
Referee's Name FoulsPenaltiesYellow CardsRed CardsAve
Disc pointsC. Foy 72 0 7 0 46.50
PLAYER HEAD-TO-HEAD
click below for in-depth comparisonRepka v Ehiogu
TEAM NEWS
With Sebastien Schemmel injured, Don Hutchison doubtful, and Trevor Sinclair suspended, the door could be open for fit-again Ian Pearce to make a start in a right sided defensive role.
MATCH BETTING
click on links below to place a wager
Match Result
West Ham 4/5
Draw 11/5
Middlesbrough 3/1
Correct Score
West Ham 1-0 6/1
West Ham 2-0 13/2
West Ham 2-1 7/1
West Ham 3-0 12/1
West Ham 3-1 12/1
West Ham 3-2 25/1
West Ham 4-0 33/1
West Ham 4-1 28/1
West Ham 4-2 50/1
West Ham 5-0 80/1
West Ham 5-1 80/1
West Ham 6-0 100/1
West Ham 6-1 100/1
Draw 0-0 8/1
Draw 1-1 11/2
Draw 2-2 14/1
Draw 3-3 50/1
Middlesbrough 1-0 17/2
Middlesbrough 2-0 20/1
Middlesbrough 2-1 14/1
Middlesbrough 3-0 40/1
Middlesbrough 3-1 33/1
Middlesbrough 3-2 33/1
Middlesbrough 4-0 100/1
Middlesbrough 4-1 100/1
Middlesbrough 4-2 100/1
Double Result
West Ham/West Ham 2/1
West Ham/Draw 15/1
West Ham/Middlesbrough 33/1
Draw/West Ham 7/2
Draw/Draw 7/2
Draw/Middlesbrough 7/1
Middlesbrough/West Ham 25/1
Middlesbrough/Draw 15/1
Middlesbrough/Middlesbrough 7/1
First Goalscorer
F Kanoute 5/1
J Defoe 11/2
P Kitson 7/1
S Todorov 9/1
R Garcia 10/1
D Hutchison 10/1
J Cole 14/1
S Lomas 20/1
G Mccann 20/1
V Labant 25/1
S Moncur 25/1
C Dailly 33/1
L Courtois 33/1
H Foxe 40/1
S Minto 40/1
I Pearce 40/1
N Winterburn 50/1
S Potts 50/1
T Repka 50/1
No Goalscorer 8/1
A Boksic 7/1
N Whelan 8/1
B Carbone 8/1
S Nemeth 10/1
D Windass 10/1
C Marinelli 16/1
J Greening 20/1
P Stamp 20/1
U Ehiogu 25/1
M Wilson 25/1
R Mustoe 33/1
F Quedrue 40/1
R Stockdale 40/1
G Southgate 50/1
J Gavin 50/1
C Cooper 50/1
For all these bets + much more go now to surreySPORTS.co.uk
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