Alan Pardew believes that the winner of our FA Cup fifth
round tie at Bolton Wanderers on Saturday has a great chance of
going all the way in the competition.
The Hammers boss takes his team to the Reebok Stadium on the back of a seven-match winning run that includes our victories over Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers in the previous rounds of the competition and, with a place in the last eight now at stake, he is confident of leading the Club to glory.
"I honestly think the winner of this game has a great chance of going all the way," says Pards. "No-one will want to draw us or Bolton in the quarter-finals - and I include the big-boys in that.
"I believe we are a serious threat in this competition. Our position in the league is comfortable, we have plenty of bodies available, and so we are ready to have a real go at it on Saturday."
The trip to Bolton marks our third contest against Sam Allardyce's men this season, and Pards will be hoping to make it third time lucky following a 2-1 defeat at home in the Premiership back in August and a 1-0 loss in the Carling Cup third round up at the Reebok two months later.
"We were unlucky against Bolton at Upton Park early on in the season," recalls the Hammers boss. "We created a lot of chances and Marlon Harewood missed two very good opportunities that had some people asking whether or not he could do it in the Premiership - I certainly think he has answered that question since then.
"I don't think we can read too much into the Carling Cup match in October - neither side were at full strength or particularly well-drilled that night, and it will be a very different tie on Saturday.
"We know that Bolton will be tough to break down. I personally think their defensive ability is underestimated and they have one of the best units in the division. Their back five, including the goalkeeper, is very strong and I think they have only conceded five goals at home in the Premiership this season.
"A draw would be a good result for us, but I'm hoping that their tough game against Marseille in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday will have taken its toll and, if we are on top of our game and keep the tempo high, I think they will find us hard to deal with."
The Hammers boss takes his team to the Reebok Stadium on the back of a seven-match winning run that includes our victories over Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers in the previous rounds of the competition and, with a place in the last eight now at stake, he is confident of leading the Club to glory.
"I honestly think the winner of this game has a great chance of going all the way," says Pards. "No-one will want to draw us or Bolton in the quarter-finals - and I include the big-boys in that.
"I believe we are a serious threat in this competition. Our position in the league is comfortable, we have plenty of bodies available, and so we are ready to have a real go at it on Saturday."
The trip to Bolton marks our third contest against Sam Allardyce's men this season, and Pards will be hoping to make it third time lucky following a 2-1 defeat at home in the Premiership back in August and a 1-0 loss in the Carling Cup third round up at the Reebok two months later.
"We were unlucky against Bolton at Upton Park early on in the season," recalls the Hammers boss. "We created a lot of chances and Marlon Harewood missed two very good opportunities that had some people asking whether or not he could do it in the Premiership - I certainly think he has answered that question since then.
"I don't think we can read too much into the Carling Cup match in October - neither side were at full strength or particularly well-drilled that night, and it will be a very different tie on Saturday.
"We know that Bolton will be tough to break down. I personally think their defensive ability is underestimated and they have one of the best units in the division. Their back five, including the goalkeeper, is very strong and I think they have only conceded five goals at home in the Premiership this season.
"A draw would be a good result for us, but I'm hoping that their tough game against Marseille in the UEFA Cup on Wednesday will have taken its toll and, if we are on top of our game and keep the tempo high, I think they will find us hard to deal with."