Youth Date Awaits

West Ham are still waiting to agree a date with Manchester City on when the two teams will meet in the quarter final of the FA Youth Cup at Hyde United's Ewen Fields ground.

Reports that say the game had been switched there from Maine Road are inaccurate, however, and club secretary Peter Barnes says: "They are entitled to use that venue up to and including this round of the competition; the game was not switched to it."

Academy boss Tony Carr is looking forward to the game immensely, whenever it is played, and he says: "I watched Manchester City beat Millwall in the last round and although it was only 1-0 they were quite comfortable winners - and could have had more.

"I have said for many weeks now that they are one of the favourites for the competition; they are a very strong side that Millwall tried to get amongst to rattle their cage.

"But they stood up to it and were as competitive as them, and they couldn't do it.

"It will be a tough one up there but we have proved before in cup ties anything can happen and it is up to us to be up for it on the night and come away with the victory.

"There are no replays any more so it is all or nothing on the night and we will give it our best."

West Ham overcame Norwich City at Upton Park in the last round, and Tony adds: "The Norwich game was all I expected it to be and they had a lot of possession on the ball.

"In some ways they passed it better than us, but I thought our spirit and determination came through and we did enough to win the tie over the 90 minutes.

"In fact we could have had more goals on the break two or three times, though they had a fair chance of a penalty turned down so we got a little bit of luck there.

"But out goalkeeper, George Sealey, didn't have to make too many saves on the night and I thought overall we had a lot more clear cut chances and shots than them.

"On that alone we edged it - but I think we have knocked out a very good side and I was pleased with the result."

*The reserve team home game against Chelsea on March 4th has been switched to Upton Park.