WEST HAM UNITED v MANCHESTER UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 2 APRIL 2011
KICK-OFF: 12.45PM
FULL AUDIO COVERAGE - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United welcome the Barclays Premier League leaders to the Boleyn Ground looking to make it four home wins in a row in all competitions for the first time since September 2008.
• Back-to-back wins for the first time since February 2010 over Liverpool and Stoke City followed by a goalless draw at Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago have seen the Hammers climb out of the relegation zone into 17th place.
• West Ham have not kept three clean sheets in a row in the league since March 2009 when they secured 1-0 wins against Manchester City and Wigan Athletic and a goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion.
• Manchester United are five points clear at the top of the table but will be aware they were beaten 4-0 in a Carling Cup tie at the Boleyn Ground on 30 November. They have also failed to win eleven of their 15 away matches this season.
• West Ham have lost just one of their last seven Barclays Premier League matches, defeating Blackpool, Liverpool and Stoke City, drawing at Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham, and losing narrowly at home to Birmingham City.
• Before the 4-0 Hammers win in November, Manchester United had scored 13 goals without reply in the previous five meetings between the sides. The Red Devils triumphed in every one of those contests and had actually won previous last half-dozen encounters.
• The Hammers' last Barclays Premier League success was a 2-1 triumph at home on 29 December 2007, thanks to Matt Upson's late headed winner.
• West Ham will appear live on television for the 17th time this season, with Saturday's fixture being screened on Sky Sports. The Hammers have won five, drawn three and lost eight of their previous 16 live-televised matches in 2010/11.
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Last time out
Saturday 19 March 2011
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Da Costa, Upson, Bridge, Noble, Parker, Hitzlsperger, O'Neil, Cole (Obinna 78), Ba
Subs not used: Boffin,
Saturday 19 March 2011
Barclays Premier League
Manchester United 1-0 Bolton Wanderers
Manchester United: Van der Sar, Evra, Brown (Fabio 46), Smalling, Evans, GIggs, Carrick, Nani, Valencia, Rooney, Hernandez (Berbatov 46)
Subs not used: Kusczak, Gill, Park, Gibson, Owen
Goal: Berbatov 88
Previous meeting
West Ham entertained Manchester United on 30 November in a Carling Cup fifth-round match. The Hammers won 4-0 thanks to two goals from Jonathan Spector and a second-half double by Carlton Cole.
West Ham United: Green, Ben Haim, Upson, Spector, Faubert, Tomkins (Reid 74), Kovac, Boa Morte, Barrera (Hines 76), Cole (Stanislas 89), Obinna
Subs not used: Boffin, Parker, McCarthy, Piquionne
Goals: Spector 22, 37, Cole 55, 66
Manchester United: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Smalling, Evans (Brown 72), Fabio (Rafael 65), Obertan, Fletcher, Anderson, Giggs, Hernandez, Bebe (Macheda 46)
Subs not used: Amos, Park, Carrick, Eikrem
Background
• West Ham's record home win against Manchester United was a 5-1 success in the old First Division on 11 October 1930.
• Manchester United's biggest triumph in east London was a 6-1 victory on 6 May 1967.
• The two sides have already met in the league this season when Manchester United won 3-0 at home at Old Trafford on 28 August. A disputed penalty for an apparent foul by Jonathan Spector on Ryan Giggs saw Wayne Rooney score from the spot before Nani (50) and Dimitar Berbatov (69) rounded out what proved a comfortable home win.
• Saturday's fixture marks the 122nd competitive fixture between West Ham United and Manchester United. The Hammers have won 42, the Red Devils 55 and there have been 24 draws.
• Avram Grant and Sir Alex Ferguson met as the Chelsea and Manchester United managers in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final. The match finished 1-1 before the Reds won 6-5 on penalties.
• Thomas Hitzlsperger celebrates his 29th birthday on Sunday. James Tomkins was 22 last Tuesday.
• West Ham have been caught offside (100) more times than any other side in the top flight this campaign.
• Edwin van der Sar is second in the Barclays Premier League race for the golden glove with 12 clean sheets. Only Joe Hart on 13 has more. Van de Sar is in line for his 600th league match.
• Dimitar Berbatov is leading the race for the Golden Boot with 20 goals.
• Nani has had more shots off target than any other player in this season's Barclays Premier League with 57. He has also had more assists (16).
• Manchester United have scored more late goals in the last ten minutes of match than anyone else, with 13.
Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
30 November 2010 - West Ham United 4-0 Manchester United
28 August 2010 - Manchester United 3-0 West Ham United
23 February 2010 - Manchester United 3-0 West Ham United
5 December 2010 - West Ham United 0-4 Manchester United
8 February 2009 - West Ham United 0-1 Manchester United
29 October 2008 - Manchester United 2-0 West Ham United
Overall record v Manchester United (all competitions) W 42 D 24 L 55
Overall record
v Tottenham Hotspur (all competitions) W 44 D 34 L 57
Team news
• Frederic Piquionne and Robbie Keane are both in contention to start, meaning a full-fit complement of forwards in Avram Grant's squad.
• Jack Collison was due to figure for the reserves in Friday afternoon's home match with Manchester United at Bishop's Stortford FC.
• West Ham manager Avram Grant is still without long-term absentee Peter Kurucz (knee) and Junior Stanislas (groin).
• Kieron Dyer (Ipswich Town), Jordan Spence (Bristol City), Frank Nouble (Charlton Athletic) and Olly Lee (Dagenham and Redbridge) are out on loan at present.
• Manchester United are definitely without the suspended Paul Scholes and Jonny Evans.
• Also out are Anderson and Anders Lindegaard (both knee), while Rio Ferdinand (calf) and Darren Fletcher (virus) are also set to miss out. Sir Alex Ferguson will also be missing Owen Hargreaves with a shoulder problem, while John O'Shea and Rafael have hamstring issues.
Ten-year 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)
Manchester United
Manchester United
2009/10 Premier League 2nd (85 points)
2008/09 Premier League 1st (90 points)
2007/08 Premier League 1st (87 points)
2006/07 Premier League 1st (89 points)
2005/06 Premier League 2nd (83 points)
2004/05 Premier League 3rd (77 points)
2003/04 Premier League 3rd (75 points)
2002/03 Premier League 1st (83 points)
2001/02 Premier League 3rd (77 points)
2000/01 Premier League 1st (80 points)
Referee
• Saturday's referee is Lee Mason.
• His most recent Hammers' match was the 3-3 draw away to West Bromwich Albion on 12 February 2011, with his last Manchester United game coming on 28 December and a 1-1 draw at Birmingham City.
Old boys
• West Ham United defender Jonathan Spector joined Manchester United as a 17-year-old in 2003. The United States international, who has a German passport, spent two seasons at Old Trafford - making eight appearances for the first team - before moving to Charlton Athletic on a season-long loan in the summer of 2005. Spector left Manchester United for West Ham in June 2006 for an initial fee of £500,000.
• Manchester United have two former West Ham United players in their squad. England defender Rio Ferdinand made 158 appearances for the club between May 1996 and November 2000, scoring two goals. Midfielder Michael Carrick scored six goals in 159 appearances between July 1999 and May 2004.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Roy Carroll, Noel Cantwell, Luke Chadwick, Billy Grassam, Paul Ince, Ralph Milne, Frederick Milnes, Frank O'Farrell, Stuart Pearson, Dave Sexton, Teddy Sheringham and Raimond van der Gouw.
General information
• This match is sold-out. For general ticket information, click here.
• Saturday afternoon's forecast in east London is for an overcast day with temperatures peaking around the 16C mark.
RESPECT - A SEVEN-POINT PLAN FOR FOLLOWING THE HAMMERS
Responsibility for all - We have a duty to show Hammers fans are the best. We are passionate and proud - but always fair. Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking and now Scott Parker have inspired us all in the right way, the West Ham way, and we should remember that always.
England's finest - We have a proud reputation at home and abroad. West Ham United is your local club and we are growing it on a global scale. Wherever you are, you are ambassadors for the Hammers and we want the world to see the Academy of Football in a positive light.
Sing your hearts out - Our support is famous. We have always gotten behind the team even when things are not going well and long may this continue. The players always talk about the impact of hearing Bubbles or Come on you Irons ringing out around the ground. Sometimes our dreams fade and die but our steadfast support continues.
Pride in your stadium- The Boleyn Ground is your home from home. It is up to us all to make it a place where all West Ham United fans - young and old can follow the Irons. Feel pride in your surroundings and look after your own. Bring your scarves, flags and, most importantly, your voices.
Education is key - The club are proud to lead the way in community work. Get involved, whether it be coaching courses, supporter panels or initiatives like Kick It Out. Learn more about what the club does seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. Stay in touch with whufc.com, Facebook and Twitter.
Control your language and conduct - We all feel passionate support and none more than Hammers fans so famously committed - it's a way of life after all. Take care to ensure your conduct at a match does not affect your life outside of Upton Park. CCTV footage of passionate behaviour taken too far has affected fans' ability to watch their beloved Hammers and, in extreme cases, has impacted on their jobs and family life. Banter makes a match but there is a line. There is no place for racism, prejudice and abuse anywhere in football. We are all Hammers together and claret and blue are the only colours that matter.
The way forward - We are nothing without our fans and never take you for granted. We want your thoughts and ideas about how we can improve the supporter experience from buying tickets to matchday entertainment. email us at [email protected]