Barclays Premier League
Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United
Molineux
Saturday 16 October 2010
3pm
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
WHUTV - ALL THE NEWS AND VIEWS, ACTION AND REACTION
+ LIVE AUDIO COMMENTARY
Introduction
• West Ham United head to Wolverhampton Wanderers with both teams at the wrong end of the table on five points from seven matches but Avram Grant and Mick McCarthy will remind their men that each side is within a win of mid-table.
• West Ham United are seeking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions when they travel to Molineux. The Hammers drew 1-1 at Stoke City before winning 2-1 at Sunderland in the Carling Cup third round. Two home games followed with Tottenham Hotspur beaten 1-0 before a 1-1 draw against Fulham.
• Wolves have lost their last four league games, having begun the season unbeaten in four games in all competitions.
• Last season's fixture at the Boleyn Ground was twice re-arranged. It was originally due to be played on 10 January before being beaten by adverse weather conditions in east London. It was then rescheduled for Tuesday 2 February only for Wolves' FA Cup commitments at the time to lead to a second postponement until 23 March.
• West Ham have still not won away in the Barclays Premier League since a 2-0 success at Molineux on the opening day of last season on 15 August 2009. Goals in each half from Mark Noble and Matthew Upson ensured a 2-0 away win for the Hammers. It is 21 games since that last top-flight success for the Hammers.
• This will be the sides' third encounter in the Premier League but they have met 57 times before. West Ham hold the upper hand with 26 wins. Wolves have emerged victorious on 18 occasions.
• Avram Grant's side face Stoke City at home in the Carling Cup fourth round on Wednesday 27 October. Ticket prices have been slashed by the club, with season ticket holders able to secure their seat for just £15 for adults and £5 for children. Non-season ticket holders can buy their seat for £20 for adults and £10 for children.
• Wolves also have a fourth-round tie to look forward to, away to Manchester United on Tuesday 26 October. That titanic tie is preceded by the equally imposing league trip to Chelsea and followed by a potentially daunting home date with Manchester City.
• Avram Grant and Mick McCarthy are both former international managers. Grant was in charge of Israel between 2002 and 2006, while McCarthy had previously had the helm of the Republic of Ireland between 1996 and 2002.
Team news
West Ham United
• Ahead of his weekly team news update at the Friday media conference, manager Avram Grant has just three outfield players on the confirmed injured list. Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh), Zavon Hines (knee) and Jack Collison (knee).
• Herita Ilunga, Winston Reid, Tal Ben Haim, Jonathan Spector and Pablo Barrera all got playing time while away on international duty.
• Valon Behrami, Radoslav Kovac and Kieron Dyer have all been working hard at Chadwell Heath to be in contention for a first-eleven return.
• Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker and Mark Noble will all hope to maintain their ever-present records this season in the Premier League. Green is on a run of 133 consecutive league starts for the club.
• Benni McCarthy could appear for the first time since the Carling Cup second-round victory over Oxford United on 24 August after working hard on his fitness. The striker has scored in three successive appearances, twice for the reserves and then in last Monday's 3-2 friendly win at Dagenham and Redbridge.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Home captain Karl Henry will begin a three-match suspension for his red card at Wigan Athletic last time out.
• Ireland striker Kevin Doyle could be back, though, after training fully this week following his recovery from a knee injury.
• Wolves were boosted by the return of Irish attacker Stephen Hunt, who signed in the summer from Hull City, after eight months out with a 45-minute run-out for the reserves.
• Ronald Zubar, who scored in Wolves' win at Upton Park last March, is out until November with an ankle injury.
Last time out
West Ham United
• West Ham United kept up their unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw at home to Fulham before the international break. Clint Dempsey put the Cottagers in front before Frederic Piquionne's third goal in as many matches ensured a home point.
2 October 2010
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 1-1 Fulham
West Ham United: Green, Gabbidon, Jacobsen, Upson, Da Costa, Parker, Noble, Boa Morte, Barrera (Cole 69), Piquionne, Obinna
Subs not used: Stech, Kovac, Ilunga, Tomkins, Stanislas, McCarthy,
Goal: Piquionne 51
Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Wolves had to contend with the early red card shown to Karl Henry but kept Wigan Athletic out until the 65th minute before succumbing to a second five minutes from time. It was the first time this season that Wolves have failed to score in any match.
2 October 2010
Barclays Premier League
Wigan Athletic 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves: Hahnemann, Foley, Berra, Craddock, Mancienne, Henry (sent off 11), Edwards (Bent 82), Jarvis, Stephen Ward (Ebanks-Blake 82), Fletcher (Elokobi 52), Doyle
Subs not used: Hennessey, Van Damme, Stearman, Jones
Previous meeting
Wolves were convincing winners the last time the teams met, back on 23 March 2010 at the Boleyn Ground. Guille Franco's last-gasp consolation was all the Hammers had to show for a disappointing 3-1 defeat that saw Kevin Doyle (28), Ronald Zubar (58) and Matt Jarvis (61) score for the visitors.
West Ham United: Green, Upson, Tomkins (Spector 45), Daprela, Parker, Kovac (Stanislas 45), Behrami, Faubert, Cole, Diamanti, McCarthy (Franco 71)
Subs not used: Stech, Noble, Ilan, Mido,
Wolves: Hahnemann, Foley, Berra, Elokobi, Craddock, Mancienne (Guedioura 86), Zubar (Halford 81), Henry, Jarvis (Stephen Ward 71), Jones, Doyle
Subs not used: Hennessey, Ebanks-Blake, Iwelumo, Milijas
Head to head
23 March 2010 - West Ham United 1-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
15 August 2009 - Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-2 West Ham United
15 January 2005 - Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-2 West Ham United
2 October 2004 - West Ham United 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
25 January 2004 - Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-3 West Ham United (FA Cup)
6 March 1993 - West Ham United 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderer
Overall record v Wolves - W 26, D 13, L18
Ten-year league records
West Ham United
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2000/01 Premier League 15th (42 points)
Wolves
2009/10 Premier League
2008/09 Championship champions (90 points - promoted Premier League)
2007/08 Championship 7th (70 points)
2006/07 Championship 5th (76 points)
2005/06 Championship 7th (67 points)
2004/05 Championship 9th (66 points)
2003/04 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2002/03 Division One 5th (76 points - promoted via play-offs)
2001/02 Division One 3rd (86 points)
2000/01 Division One 12th (55 points)
Background
West Ham United
• West Ham are without a win away from home in the Barclays Premier League since 15 August 2009 - the opening day of last season - when they won 2-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
• Scott Parker and Frederic Piquionne are West Ham's top scorers this season with three goals apiece - both have scored twice in the Barclays Premier League and once in the Carling Cup.
• Parker turned 30 on Wednesday.
• Danny Gabbidon's yellow card against Fulham on 2 October was the quickest caution given to a top-flight player this season. It came after just one minute and 25 seconds.
• No Barclays Premier League player has made more key defensive blocks than Matthew Upson this season with the skipper having nine to his name in seven matches.
• It is eight matches since the Hammers scored more than once in a Barclays Premier League contest - the longest run in the top-flight.
• Avram Grant got the better of Mick McCarthy the only time the managers have previously met as opposing managers, with Grant's Portsmouth winning 3-1 at home on 1 May 2010.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Wolves' leading scorer this season is summer signing from Burnley, Stephen Fletcher who has two top-flight goals and one in the Carling Cup to his name.
• With 21 cautions this season in the top-flight, no club has received more yellow cards than Wolves. The Hammers, with 15th, have the fourth worst record.
• The Midlands club have not won in six league matches, since taking all three points on the opening day of the season with a 2-1 success at home to Stoke City.
• Wolves are ten games overall without a clean sheet in the Barclays Premier League, the longest run of the 20 clubs.
• Wolves have yet to score in the last ten minutes of a league match this season, the only club with that record. They have conceded five times in that period, more than any other in the division.
• Wolves defender Christophe Berra is on four yellow cards, meaning one more caution would lead to a one-game suspension.
Referee
• Mark Clattenburg will referee a Hammers game for the second time this season after being the man in the middle for the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday 28 August. He has yet to take charge of a Wolves fixture in this campaign.
• After taking up refereeing as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, Clattenburg worked his way up through the Northern League and Conference League before being named to the Football League Assistant Referees List in 1999.
• Clattenburg was promoted to the National List of Football League referees in 2000.
• The 35-year-old was the man in the middle for the Championship play-off semi-final first leg in May 2004 when Ipswich Town won 1-0 against the visiting West Ham.
• After becoming a FIFA official in 2006 at the age of 31, Clattenburg has taken control of a number of international and UEFA Champions League matches.
Old boys
• Carlton Cole spent two months on loan at Wolves at the end of 2003, where he made seven appearances, scoring one goal.
• First-team coach Kevin Keen played 42 times for Wolves after leaving West Ham in 1993.
• Others who have played for both clubs include Jeremie Aliadiere, Edward Anderson, Frank Burrill, Henri Camara, Robert 'Dickie' Deacon, Tommy Dunn, Noel Dwyer, Joe Gallagher, Bobby Gould, Harry Hooper, Tudor Martin, Shaun Newton, Nigel Quashie and Dick Richards.
Next up
• West Ham welcome Newcastle United for a televised encounter live on Sky Sports on Saturday 23 October, with kick-off at 5.30pm. Wolves will return to the capital on the same day for a 3pm date at champions Chelsea.
Travel information
• For directions for Molineux, click here
General information
• For ticket information click here.