Birmingham City match preview

Introduction

• West Ham United go into Easter Monday's clash with Birmingham City having set a new club record for most away wins in a season after a 4-0 victory over Barnsley on Good Friday.

• Birmingham City travel to east London having beaten Crystal Palace 3-1 at home on Saturday afternoon. It was their third successive 3-1 win in a four match unbeaten run for the Blues.

• West Ham currently sit in third place in the npower championship - just four points behind Reading and top of the table Southampton. Birmingham are in fourth position, six points behind the Hammers.

• West Ham and Birmingham shared the points when they met at St. Andrews on Boxing Day. The match finished 1-1 after a goal each for West Ham's Carlton Cole and Birmingham's David Murphy.

Team News

West Ham United

• The Hammers picked up no new injury concerns following their game on Good Friday with Barnsley. Guy Demel was brougt off early after his return from injury and with several key players on the bench, Big Sam could look to rotate his side.

• Papa Bouba Diop could be in line to start his first game in three months after coming off the bench against Barnsley.

• Right back Joey O'Brien remains a doubt with a thigh problem so Guy Demel could keep his place in the starting eleven. Julien Faubert could also be out after he missed the Barnsley win.

Birmingham

• Birmingham midfielder Keith Fahey returned on Saturday against Palace after a spell out with a groin injury and will be keen to keep his place.

• Former Hammer Jonathan Spector and Pablo Ibanez are still unfit after time out with thigh and hamstring injuries.

• Stephen Carr is still out of action with a knee problem.

Last Time Out

Friday 6 April 2012
npower Championship
Barnsley 0-4 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green, Reid, McCartney, Tomkins, Demel (Collins 59), Nolan, Taylor, Noble (Diop 80), O'Neil (Lansbury 70), Maynard, Vaz Te
Subs not used: Baldock, Cole
Goals: Nolan (7), Maynard (23), Noble (35), Vaz Te (55)

Saturday 7 April 2012
npower Championship
Birmingham City 3-1 Crystal Palace
Birmingham City: Myhill, Murphy, Caldwell, Ramage, Davies, Burke, Townsend, Mutch, Fahey ('daw 83), King (Rooney 88), Zigic (Huseklepp 46)
Subs not used: Doyle, Redmond
Goals: Burke (21), Fahey (22), Murphy (32)

Last six meetings

(championship unless stated)

26 December 2011 - Birmingham City 1-1West Ham United
6 February 2011 - West Ham United 0-1 Birmingham City (Premier League)
26 January 2011 - Birmingham City 3-1 West Ham United (League Cup semi-final)
11 January 2011 West Ham United 2-1 Birmingham City (League Cup semi-final)
6 November 2010 - Birmingham City 2-2 West Ham United (Premier League)
10 February 2010 - West Ham United 2-0 Birmingham City (Premier League)

Overall record v Birmingham City (all competitions) W 32 D 21 L 40

Ten-year league 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)

Birmingham City

2010/11 Premier League 18th (39 points)
2009/10 Premier League 9th (50 points)
2008/09 Championship 2nd (83 points - promoted to Premier League)
2007/08 Premier League 19th (35 points - relegated to Championship)
2006/07 Championship 2nd (86 points - promoted to Premier League)
2005/06 Premier League 18th (34 points - relegated to Championship)
2004/05 Premier League 12th (45 points)
2003/04 Premier League 10th (50 points)
2002/03 Premier League 13th (48 points)
2001/02 Championship 5th (76 points - promoted to Premier League via play-offs)

Referee

• Easter Monday's referee will be Mr. Jon Moss.

• Moss has taken charge of the Hammers once this season - overseeing their 2-1 away defeat to Derby County on New Year's Eve.

• Headteacher Moss was promoted to the Select Group of referees in June 2011 and has been officiating in the Premier League this season.

• After progressing through the Northern Counties East League and Northern Premier League, Moss was promoted to the National Group of assistant referees in 2003.

• Moss took charge of the 2005 Conference Play-off final between Carlisle United and Stevenage. He was then promoted to the National Group of referees in 2005.

• Moss will be assisted by Stephen Bratt and William Smallwood with the fourth official being Gavin Ward.

Us and Them

• Stratford-born Chris Hughton spent two years as a left-back with West Ham between 1990 and 1992, making 43 appearances in all competitions including the 1991 FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

• Jonathan Spector signed a two-year deal with Birmingham in August 2011 after his five-year association with the Hammers ended. He made 101 league appearances for West Ham, scoring two goals.

• Liam Ridgewell started off life in the West Ham United Academy before moving to Aston Villa in February 2001.

• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Lee Bowyer, Alan Curbishley, Jimmy Bloomfield, Kenny Brown, Julian Dicks, Eamonn Dolan, Harry Hooper, David Kelly, Stan Lazaridis, Mike Newell, Sam Small, Matthew Upson and Mark Ward.

Up Next

West Ham United will play host to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday 14 April with kick off scheduled for 3:00pm. Ticket information for this game can be found by clicking here.

Birmingham City will welcome Bristol City to St. Andrews on the same day with kick-off also scheduled for 3:00pm

General Information

• Weather-wise, Easter Monday is set to be mild at 11C but wet with rain expected all day. There are still tickets remaining for the visit of Birmingham City with West Ham running their ever-popular Kids for a Quid Scheme. More information can be found by clicking below.