WEST HAM UNITED v PETERBOROUGH UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United go into the weekend's big Kids for a Fiver contest in fifth place, having collected 14 points from their opening seven league matches. That form makes it the Hammers' best start in eight seasons. Peterborough are eleventh, with ten points from their first seven fixtures.
• The Hammers have been the most watched team at home in the Championship and the 33,465 attendance last time out for the 4-3 win at the Boleyn against Portsmouth a fortnight ago was the fourth biggest gate of the day in the country. In fact, it would have been the biggest had it been played last Saturday.
• The Posh have the lowest average gate in the division in contrast, and have not won in six away fixtures in the league.
• That defeat of Portsmouth was the Hammers first home win since a 3-0 home win against Stoke City on 5 March 2011.
• Peterborough are looking to make it two straight wins in the Championship for the first time since March 2010.
• Sam Allardyce's men are seeking a seventh match unbeaten in the npower Championship this season, and know a win would lift them at least above third-placed Brighton & Hove Albion after they drew 3-3 with Leeds United on Friday night.
• West Ham United and Peterborough United have met just twice in competitive fixtures - facing each other in Division One during the 1992/93 season. The Hammers were victorious in both fixtures, winning 3-1 at London Road on 12 September 1992 and 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground on 9 February 1993.
• The Posh were a League Two club as recently as the 2007/08 season when they finished second in the same season that the Hammers finished tenth in the Premier League.
• Former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was a spectator when West Ham United travelled to London Road for a pre-season friendly on 14 July 2010. Carlton Cole and Anthony Edgar were on target for the Hammers in a 2-1 victory, with striker Dave Hibbert scoring The Posh's consolation.
• Sam Baldock scored MK Dons' second goal in their 3-2 League One Play-Off semi-final first leg victory over Peterborough United on 15 May 2011, only for The Posh to win the second leg 2-0 at London Road and go on to secure promotion to the Championship.
• Sam Allardyce has squared up against Darren Ferguson, the son of Big Sam's good friend Sir Alex, once before as manager. As Blackburn Rovers supremo, he earned a quarter-final tie with a 5-2 home defeat of Peterborough United on 28 October 2009. Joe Lewis was sent off for The Posh.
• Peterborough United's on-loan Manchester United midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe appeared for the Red Devils in their 1-0 FA Youth Cup fourth-round victory over West Ham United at the Boleyn Ground in January 2011.
• Peterborough director of football Barry Fry was manager of Birmingham City under David Sullivan and David Gold between 1993 and 1996. Fry and Joint-Chairman Gold are set to meet Legends Lounge guests before the game.
• West Ham United midfielder Henri Lansbury, a debutant goalscorer against Portsmouth two weeks ago, is set to be watched by England U21 coach Stuart Pearce.
Charity collection
• Caudwell Children's Charity will be holding a collection at the Boleyn Ground around the match.
• The charity is committed to changing the lives of disabled children across the UK and provides specialist equipment, treatment, therapy and family support. As well as these much needed services, an annual Destination Dreams holiday is arranged to provide children who have life-threatening illnesses a dream trip, with this year's destination Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
• For more information about the charity and how to get involved with their work, visit their website www.cauldwellchildren.com
Team news
West Ham United
• James Tomkins trained on Thursday and Friday and could make a surprise return after limping out of the 0-0 draw at Millwall last Saturday with a groin problem. Sam Allardyce had initially thought he could be out for ten days.
• The manager could hand a home start to David Bentley after the England midfielder appeared as a second-half substitute against Portsmouth and Millwall in the last two weekends. Fellow new recruit Sam Baldock made his debut against The Lions in the last fixture and is also pushing for a first start, and Boleyn bow.
• Papa Bouba Diop is also set to be involved at some stage over the next week, with the squad facing three games in eight days. Freddie Sears impressed in a development squad game at Charlton Athletic in midweek and is also eager to stake a claim, as is Jack Collison after being rested in the last two matches.
• Guy Demel is making good progress from a hamstring injury that has delayed his debut and could join in full training sometime next week.
• Frederic Piquionne serves the second game of a three-match suspension after being sent-off in the 4-3 npower Championship victory over Portsmouth a fortnight ago.
• Gary O'Neil (ankle) is out with long-term ankle injury.
• Pablo Barrera and Jordan Spence are on season-long loans at Real Zaragoza and Bristol City respectively. Ahmed Abdulla (Swindon Town), Jordan Brown (Aldershot Town), Robert Hall (Oxford United), Olly Lee (Dagenham & Redbridge), Cristian Montano (Notts County) and Callum McNaughton (AFC Wimbledon) are all out on temporary loans.
Peterborough United
• Darren Ferguson is sweating over the fitness of Gabriel Zakauni, with the Congolese player having a toe injury.
• Striker Lee Tomlin has been unwell this week but should be fit to be involved.
• The Posh have loaned Nicky Ajose to Scunthorpe United.
Last time out
Saturday 17 September 2011
npower Championship
Millwall 0-0 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, McCartney, Faye, Tomkins (Reid 30), Lansbury (Baldock 74), Noble, Nolan, Faubert, Taylor (Bentley 59), Cole
Subs not used: Boffin, Carew
Goals: None
Saturday 17 September 2011
npower Championship
Peterborough United 2-1 Burnley
Peterborough United: Jones, Little, Bennett, Zakauni, Alcock, Boyd (Taylor 77), McCann, Sinclair, Tunnicliffe, Frecklington (Wootton 85), Tomlin (Rowe 59)
Goals: Sinclair 3, 38
Previous meetings
• West Ham United and Peterborough United have met just twice in competitive fixtures - facing each other in Division One during the 1992/93 season. The Hammers were victorious in both fixtures, winning 3-1 at London Road on 12 September 1992 and 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground on 9 February 1993.
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
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 to Premier League 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)
Peterborough United
2010/11 League One 4th (79 points - promoted to Championship via Play-Offs)
2009/10 Championship 24th (34 points - relegated to League One)
2008/09 League One 2nd (89 points - promoted to Championship)
2007/08 League Two 2nd (92 points - promoted to League One)
2006/07 League Two 10th (65 points)
2005/06 League Two 9th (62 points)
2004/05 League One 23rd (39 points - relegated to League Two)
2003/04 Second Division 18th (52 points)
2002/03 Second Division 11th (58 points)
2001/02 Second Division 17th (55 points)
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Tony Bates, who has never officated a West Ham match before. His last Peterborough United outing was their 2-2 draw at Barnsley on 5 April 2010, having also done their 2-0 defeat at Blackpool on 26 September 2009 in the same season.
Old boys
• West Ham United midfielder Jack Collison spent two years with Peterborough United as a schoolboy, playing for the club between the ages of ten and 12. The Wales international was also close to re-joining the club for a pre-agreed fee of £300,000 in January 2009, only to make his Hammers debut at Arsenal on New Year's Day and remain at the Boleyn Ground.
• Peterborough United midfielder Grant McCann came through the Academy ranks at West Ham United, turning professional in 1998 and going on to make four substitute appearances for the club before joining Cheltenham Town for £50,000 in January 2003.
• The Posh's Belfast-born Republic of Ireland U23 international winger Daniel Kearns spent three years with West Ham United between 2007 and 2010 before being released and joining League of Ireland Premier Division club Dundalk.
• The following players are among those to have worn the colours of both West Ham United and Peterborough United during their careers - Bobby Barnes, Matthew Etherington, Bill Green, Steven Laurie, Dave Llewellyn, Grant McCann, Adam Newton, John Woodburn and Terry Woodgate.
• The late great Noel Cantwell played for West Ham United before going on to manage Peterborough United on two occasions. The Cork-born Republic of Ireland full-back spent eight seasons with the Hammers, making 274 appearances, scoring eleven goals and winning the Division Two title in 1957/58. Cantwell later took charge at London Road in 1972, winning the Division Four title in his first season with The Posh. After leaving for a spell in the United States with the Jacksonville Tea Men, the Irishman returned to Peterborough between 1986 and 1988.
Up next
• West Ham United play host to Ipswich Town on Tuesday night for a 7.45pm kick-off, with Peterborough travelling to the south coast to take on Portsmouth at the same time.
General information
• Cash turnstiles will be in operation, with the club operating a Kids for a Fiver scheme. A large walk-up is expected so fans should get to the ground in good time.
• The weather forecast is for an overcast afternoon with temperatures peaking around the 20C mark.