SBOBET Cup
West Ham United v RC Deportivo La Coruna
Boleyn Ground
Saturday 7 August 2010
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Kevin Friend
HIGHLIGHTS AND REACTION TO COME ON WHUTV
LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY ON WHUFC.COM
Introduction
• West Ham United welcome Spanish opponents RC Deportivo La Coruna for their seventh and pre-season fixture ahead of the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League season.
• The Hammers have played six matches so far this summer, winning the first five and drawing just one - their last outing being on Tuesday night away to Southend United.
• This weekend's traditional Boleyn Ground curtain-raiser will be played for the SBOBET Cup in aid of the Academy. The club was keen to recognise the principal partner's strong support for the youth system as well as community and charitable causes.
• West Ham will be looking to make it seven matches unbeaten in pre-season. So far, Avram Grant's men have secured victories over League One outfit Peterborough United (2-1), German side VfL Borussia Monchengladbach (2-0), Greek champions Panathinaikos (1-0), League One outfit MK Dons (2-0), Championship club Ipswich Town (1-0) before a draw at Southend United (1-1).
• Saturday's fixture could see home debuts for Thomas Hitzlsperger, Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne while Tal Ben Haim has yet to figure for the club at all after joining from Portsmouth on Tuesday.
• The match will be the final fixture contested before the Barclays Premier League season commences with a trip to Aston Villa on Saturday 14 August.
• Should the SBOBET Cup match finish in a draw, then penalties will be played to determine the winners.
• Deportivo, who finshed tenth in La Liga last term, have enjoyed an illustrious recent history, winning the Spanish title for the first time in their history in 2000 and finishing as runners-up in each of the following two seasons.
• Two former Hammers played for the Galician club, who reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2003/04. They were Lionel Scaloni and Diego Tristan.
• The visit of Deportivo will represent the second by a Spanish club in three years after Villarreal CF came to the Boleyn Ground in 2008.
• The prestige pre-season opener at the Boleyn Ground has attracted a host of leading clubs in recent years including PSV Eindhoven (2-1, 2003), Anderlecht (4-4, Anderlecht win 5-4 on penalties, 2004), Osasuna (1-1, 2005), Olympiakos (1-1, 2006), AS Roma (2-1, 2007), Villarreal CF (1-1, 2008) and SSC Napoli (0-1, 2009).
• Fans should note that there is no in-stadia betting on Saturday. This is due to the change over for the Barclays Premier League season which will see club principal partners SBOBET providing the service. This will be in place as normal from Saturday 21 August and the visit of Bolton Wanderers.
Last meeting
• The club's most recent meeting took place during West Ham United's tour of Spain in 1926. Tommy Yews and Vic Watson scored in a 2-1 victory on 30 May of that year.
• West Ham's lineup that day was: Hufton, Hodgson, Barratt, Carter, Kay, Collins, Yews, B.Ruffell, Watson, Moore, J.Ruffell
Last time out
Tuesday 3 August 2010
Pre-season friendly
Southend United 1-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Stech, Spector (Spence 77), Da Costa (Fry 62), Gabbidon, Daprela, Kovac, Edgar (Lee 62), Diamanti (Sears 87), Barrera (Montano 70), Stanislas, Piquionne (Nouble 70)
Subs not used: Kurucz, Eyjolfsson, Brown, Moncur
Goal: Diamanti 62
Wednesday 3 August 2010
Pre-season friendly
RC Deportivo La Coruna 0-0 Newcastle United (Newcastle United won 5-4 on penalties)
RC Deportivo La Coruna: Manu, Manuel Pablo, Lopo, Aythami, Stopira (Laure 46), Juan Rodríguez (Juan Domínguez 46), Rubén Pérez (Zé Castro 71), Saúl (Valerón 67), Míchel, Urreta (Guardado 46), Riki
West Ham United
• Avram Grant's West Ham United will be aiming to continue the bright start they have made to their pre-season schedule, which has seen them defeat League One new boys Peterborough United (2-1) at London Road, German Bundesliga challengers VfL Borussia Monchengladbach (2-0) in Ruhpolding, Greek double winners Panathinaikos (1-0) in the Austrian town of Kitzbuhel, MK Dons (2-0) at stadium:mk and Ipswich Town (1-0) at Portman Road. The away schedule was completed by Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Southend.
• Carlton Cole has been in fine form in pre-season, scoring in the victories over Peterborough, Monchengladbach and MK Dons with just 45 minute run-outs in each contest before adding a fourth in five games against Ipswich last Saturday - his first 90 minutes of the summer.
• Benni McCarthy scored his first goal for the club this summer with a fine half-volley against Monchengladbach.
• Thomas Hitzlsperger has made a bright start to his West Ham career following his summer arrival from SS Lazio, scoring his first goal for the club with a direct free-kick in the 1-0 victory over Panathinaikos.
• Julien Faubert is also off the mark this summer, netting the first against MK Dons, having assisted on McCarthy's goal against Monchengladbach.
• West Ham United went 471 minutes without conceding this summer between Peter Kurucz being beaten by Peterborough United's Dave Hibbert in the 49th minute of the meeting on 14 July and Anthony Grant firing past Marek Stech in the 70th minute of the 3 August game at Southend. In between there were four clean sheets against Monchengladbach, Panathinaikos, MK Dons and Ipswich.
• Grant's side will kick-off their Barclays Premier League campaign with a trip to Aston Villa on Saturday 14 August.
RC Deportivo La Coruna
• RC Deportivo La Coruna have been active in the transfer market over the summer months, with manager Miguel Angel Lotina making a number of changes to his squad ahead of the 2010/11 season.
• Veteran Spain midfielder Sergio and Brazil-born left-back Filipe Luis are the highest-profile departures from Riazor.
• The new arrivals at the Galician club are defenders Stopira and Aythami, Uruguayan winger Urreta, Valencia CF loanee Michel, central midfielder Saul and wideman Yves Desmarets.
Team news
• West Ham United manager Avram Grant may give home debuts to Thomas Hitzlsperger, Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne. Tal Ben Haim's fitness will be assessed before it is known whether he can make his maiden appearance since joining on Tuesday, while Winston Reid is unlikely to figure.
• Matthew Upson was taken off as a precaution midway through the first half last Saturday. He has been back in full training this week.
• Upson may join the likes of Robert Green, Julien Faubert, Herita Ilunga, Scott Parker, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Kieron Dyer, Mark Noble and Carlton Cole in contention for a return - after all were rested against Southend.
• Benni McCarthy and Valon Behrami have been following different training programmes from the rest of the squad after fitness issues before the summer.
• Long-term injury absentees Zavon Hines and Jack Collison (both knee) will not be available.
• For Deportivo, summer signings Stopira, Saul, Urreta and Michel all featured in the midweek friendly meeting with Newcastle United at Riazor.
• Fresh from his FIFA World Cup exploits, Mexico winger Andres Guardado appeared as a half-time substitute against the Magpies on Tuesday.
• No1 goalkeeper David Aranzubia is nursing a shoulder injury and is expected to miss Saturday's game. Back-up Manu will deputise.
• Portugal centre-back Ze Castro is suffering from gastroenteritis, while Juca, Yves Desmarets, Antonio Tomas, Urreta, Raul and Michel are all struggling to be fit for Saturday's game after missing training on Thursday.
General information
• The weather forecast on Saturday afternoon is for sunny intervals and a maximum temperature of 24C.
• Tickets will be available on the day from 9am until kick-off priced from £20 Adults, £6.50 Over-65s and £5 Under-16s.
New season
• Deportivo begin their Primera Division campaign at home to Real Zaragoza on Sunday 29 August.
• West Ham will travel to Aston Villa to start the new Barclays Premier League season on Saturday 14 August. For details of how to purchase tickets, click here.