Gale On 'ghost'

Tony Gale is hoping that the Hammers can lay to rest the cup jinx which has seen 12 knockout exits in the last 13 years.

"The run of form we've had in the FA Cup in the last five or six years against lesser sides has got to stop," he says.

He hopes the side shows the sort of form they did against Liverpool rather than Leeds at Moss Rose, and adds:

"I thought it was very disappointing at Elland Road; we played well up to half time but didn't get the goal, and when they got the third I feared the worst.

"But that didn't happen so give the boys credit for that.

"But, looking at the Liverpool game, especially in the first half, it was some of the best football I have seen played in the last three or four years at West Ham; some of the one touch football was superb.

"But that is the inconsistency you can get from younger players."

As for the Macclesfield game, he says:

"I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Kevin Keen; Kev is a great pro.

"Keeny was one of the most underrated players we had at West Ham, but you sometimes get that with homegrown players which is a little unfair.

"They love you at first then they are not so sure - but to be fair, we had some great players at the time.

"But he never hid, he always wanted the ball, and he is one of the best players I have played with."

* For Kevin Keen's preview of the game, see the archive section.