That's Entertainment

Glenn Roeder anticipates a more entertaining fixture against Manchester United this weekend than the previous two home games which provided wins over Middlesbrough and Everton.

"They were always going to be like that against two teams in the bottom half of the table," he says, "as indeed we were going in to those games, and it was vitally important that we got the three points in both those matches - which thankfully we did.

"Manchester United will cause more difficult problems for us but hopefully our players will rise to the occasion and we will get the sort of performance to secure the result that we want.

"It is always the game of the season for supporters around the country whenever their club entertains Manchester United. It is the team everyone wants to see, and rightly so with their fantastic achievements over the last eight or nine years.

"As far as we are concerned, we know how difficult it is going to be, because they are fighting hard to get as many points as they can to win another championship - but the points are equally as important for us."

Glenn says he is unsurprised by United's revival since the Hammers won at Old Trafford earlier in the season, and he says: "It was only a matter of time but fortunately we managed to get to Old Trafford on that particular Saturday afternoon and play very well, and I don't think anyone begrudged us those three points.

"But since then, as I said after the game, anyone foolish enough to write them off made a huge mistake; I have always believed you write Manchester United off at your own peril and they are right bang at the top again and in with every chance of taking the Premiership.

"Every single player is such a household name, and a top international player in his own right, and the team that Sir Alex put out on Wednesday is, in many people's opinion, the strongest eleven at the moment.

"But the way I would view things is that he could make four or five changes and it wouldn't weaken the team at all.

"Manchester United are the benchmark for all players and it is an opportunity for our players to pit their skills against them. Every seat has been sold and we are looking forward to what is a huge game."

A win would get the club side to the 40 point mark, and Glenn says: "It is a crucial time of the season, the most important. Every team that hasn't achieved those 40 points so far is trying to do that as quick as they can and we are no different.

"Then, hopefully the sooner we can get them the sooner we can look at the possibility of seeing where we end up and can have a good finish to the season.

"That is the target number for clubs outside the top four or five and the sooner you can do it with games to go, the sooner you can attack the rest of the season and finish as high as you can.

Meanwhile, with the transfer deadline looming, Glenn says he is looking at one or two fresh faces.

Trinidad and Tobago international striker Nigel Pierre played for the reserves in midweek, his fellow countryman Brent Rashim, currently with Levski Sofia, is also at the club, as is Willem II's Moroccan striker Yassine Abdellaoui.

"We haven't had any players in for a couple of months," says Glenn, "and it's like the old saying that no buses come along then three or four turn up.

"I don't want to be saying too much at this stage and want to keep it close to my chest but we have been looking at one or two players.

"We are offered lots of players and turn lots of them down because we don't feel they are of the right calibre."

As regards the possible signing of Liam Rosenior, the 17-year-old right back who had a trial from Bristol City recently, Glenn says: "There is nothing happening at all there."