FULHAM v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
WEDNESDAY 30 JANUARY 2013
KICK-OFF: 8PM
REFEREE: CHRIS FOY
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United make the short trip across London to Fulham's Craven Cottage, bidding to complete a first Barclays Premier League double of the campaign.
• The Hammers enjoyed a comprehensive 3-0 win over the Cottagers at the Boleyn Ground back in September, but now head to west London in search of a first win in six in all competitions.
• Sam Allardyce's men will look to vanquish the memory of a 5-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, a fifth reverse in six league outings away from home. The Hammers' record of six away goals all season remains the fewest of any top-flight side.
• Fulham, meanwhile, currently sit just two points and places behind the Hammers in 14th in the Barclays Premier League, with an identical goal difference of -7.
• It has been a turbulent few weeks for Martin Jol's men, who have won just one of their last seven Barclays Premier League fixtures, a 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion on New Year's Day. The Cottagers have taken a total of eight points from their previous eight league fixtures.
• West Ham have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League meetings with Fulham, eight of which they have won, including the last two. In fact, the Hammers have won ten of the 17 all-time Premier League meetings between the two clubs, losing just two.
• The Hammers' record of six Premier League wins at Craven Cottage is only bettered by Arsenal, who have seven to their name.
• Wednesday's meeting is the 87th meeting between the two sides, West Ham United have won 38, Fulham have won 28 and 20 have ended in draws.
Last time out
West Ham United's troubles on the road continued at the Emirates Stadium, with the Hammers falling foul of an eleven-minute second -half goal salvo, in which Arsenal struck four times. Ironically, all had started well for Sam Allardyce's side, as Jack Collison slammed home from the edge of the box after 18 minutes. That, however, was as good as it got, with Lukas Podolski squaring matters before half time, prior to the onslaught. In those eleven minutes, Olivier Giroud struck twice, either side of goals from Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott.
West Ham United
23 January 2013
Barclays Premier League
Arsenal 5-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; Demel, Reid (Diarra 62), Tomkins, O'Brien; Vaz Te (Diame 70), Collison (Potts 62), Noble, Nolan, Taylor, C Cole
Subs not used: Henderson, Jarvis, Cole, O'Neil
Goal: Collison 18
Fulham
26 January 2013
FA Cup with Budweiser fourth round
Manchester United 4-1 Fulham
Fulham: Schwarzer, Riise, Hangeland, Baird (Karagounis 46), Hughes, Riether, Sidwell, Duff (Rodallega 61), Kacaniklic, Berbatov, Ruiz (Dejagah 70)
Subs not used: Etheridge, Senderos, Briggs, Petric
Goal: Hughes 77
Previous meetings
• The last meeting of the sides saw West Ham United run out comfortable 3-0 winners at the Boleyn Ground, in only the Hammers' third Barclays Premier League fixture, following their return to the top flight.
• The victory marked the debut of Liverpool loan-signing Andy Carroll, who had a considerable hand in all three of West Ham's goals. The Hammers hit the front inside 60 seconds, as Ricardo Vaz Te played in Kevin Nolan, who slammed a first-time finish across Mark Schwarzer. The second goal was a simpler affair, with Winston Reid rising highest to nod home Matt Taylor's corner, while it was Taylor himself who completed the scoring, firing home from edge of the box with four first-half minutes still to play.
• The teams that day were:
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, O'Brien, Collins (Tomkins 67), Demel (Hall 78), Nolan, Taylor, Noble, Diame, Carroll (68), Vaz Te.
Subs not used: Henderson, Diarra, O'Neil, Maiga
Fulham: Schwarzer, Riise, Hangeland, Richardson (Kacaniklic 59), Hughes, Riether, Sidwell, Duff, Diarra, Petric (Berbatov 46), Rodallega
Subs not used: Stockdale, Kelly, Baird, Briggs, Kasami
Background
• West Ham United's first game against Fulham took place in 1898, in the Southern League Second Division. The Hammers came away with a 2-1 win and won the reverse fixture 1-0.
• The Hammers' record win over the Cottagers was a 7-2 home Division One victory 3 February 1968. West Ham United have also beaten their London rivals 6-1 and 5-1, with Fulham's record win being a 5-0 home victory on 7 November 1936.
• Carlton Cole has scored in each of his last five Premier League starts against Fulham, netting six in total and also netted an own-goal in a 3-2 defeat at Craven Cottage in May 2010.
Last six meetings (all Premier League)
1 September 2012 West Ham United 3-0 Fulham 26 December 2010 Fulham 1-3 West Ham United
2 October 2010 West Ham United 1-1 Fulham
2 May 2010 Fulham 3-2 West Ham United
4 October 2009 West Ham United 2-2 Fulham
18 January 2009 West Ham United 3-1 Fulham
Overall record
v Fulham (all competitions) W 38 D 20 L 28
Ten-year League records
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
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 via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
Fulham
2011/12 Premier League 9th (52 points)
2010/11 Premier League 8th (49 points)
2009/10 Premier League 12th (46 points)
2008/09 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2007/08 Premier League 17th (36 points)
2006/07 Premier League 16th (39 points)
2005/06 Premier League 12th (48 points)
2004/05 Premier League 13th (44 points)
2003/04 Premier League 9th (52 points)
2002/03 Premier League 14th (48 points)
Referee
• Chris Foy referees West Ham United for the third time in the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League, having taken charge of the 1-1 home draw against Stoke City and goalless draw at Norwich City.
• Foy officiated twice at West Ham games last season, refereeing the Hammers' 2-0 npower Championship away win at Cardiff City at the beginning of March and the defeat at the Boleyn Ground to Reading at the end of the same month.
• Foy has been a Barclays Premier League referee since 2001, having originally made the Select Group list of assistant referees in 1995.
• In 2007, Foy took charge of the FA Trophy final at Wembley, before returning to the Home of Football a year later to act as fourth official for Portsmouth's FA Cup final victory over Cardiff.
• In 2009, he was back at Wembley to take charge of the League Cup final and Community Shield, while Portsmouth were in action again as Foy refereed the 2010 FA Cup final, which Pompey lost to Chelsea.
• In all, the 49-year-old has taken charge of 27 West Ham fixtures - the first coming as long ago as 23 February 2002, when Frederic Kanoute scored the only goal in 1-0 home Premier League win over Middlesbrough.
• Foy will be assisted by Michael McDonough and Matthew Wilkes, while Craig Pawson will be the fourth official at Craven Cottage.
Team news
West Ham United
• New signing Emanuel Pogatetz goes straight into the squad, having completed his loan-deal from Bundesliga club Wolfsburg.
• Liverpool loanee Andy Carroll is back in full training, but it remains to be seen whether he will be included in the match-day 18.
• Full-back Dan Potts is set to miss out after suffering concussion in a collision with Arsenal's Bacary Sagna.
• Defensive duo James Collins (hamstring) and George McCartney (knee) remain the club's only long-term absentees.
Fulham
• Emmanuel Frimpong is in line to make his Fulham debut, after signing on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season.
• Kieran Richardson is doubtful with a calf injury, while Mahamadou Diarra remains sidelined with a knee problem. Kerim Frei (pelvic muscle) and Simon Davies (hip/thigh) are both ruled out.
Old boys
• Bobby Moore MBE played for both West Ham United and Fulham during his glittering career. Moore made 544 appearances for the Hammers before moving to Craven Cottage for £25,000 in 1974. England's World Cup-winning captain remained at Fulham for three years, making a further 124 appearances and facing his former side in the 1975 FA Cup final, which West Ham won 2-0.
• Among the other players who have represented both sides are Jan Lastuvka, Jimmy Bullard, Ian Pearce, Rufus Brevett, George Carter, Brian Dear, Tony Gale, Ron Greenwood, Jon Harley, Fred Harrison, Jack Hebden. George Horler, Luis Boa Morte, Bobby Zamora, John Pantsil and Paul Konchesky.
General information
• Tickets for West Ham United's visit to Craven Cottage are SOLD OUT. All ticket information is available here.
• Wednesday's weather forecast is for a dry evening with temperatures hovering around 7-8C (45-47F).