City In Sights

Alan Pardew is looking for his West Ham team to come back with a “strong performance” at Man City after a below par game away at the Stadium of Light before the international break. Stuart Pearce’s side are one of the toughest the Hammers will encounter this season, and be in no doubt this will be a hard game.

But whilst a poor performance and one moment of magic from Yossi Benayoun grabbed a draw from Sunderland two weeks previously, the team must know that anything but a committed display will be punished by Manchester City tomorrow.

The midfield powerhouse of Nigel Reo-Coker and Hayden Mullins will be called upon to dominate the centre of the park as they managed to against an ineffectual Arsenal two fixtures ago. We’ll all be hoping for magic displays from Yossi, Teddy and a heroic return to form for Marlon Harewood to give the Irons the edge in a tough game. I would like to see more of David Bellion coming off the bench, as he is showing signs of quality.

Roy Carroll who has been an asset to the defence is set to play despite picking up a hairline fracture to his thumb, whilst Mark Noble wont be warming the bench due to a back problem and Jeremie Aliadiere is sidelined to recover after corrections to a hernia operation.

At the back, full-back Tomas Repka desperately needs to up his game because he was shaky against Sunderland and for certain the backline will need to be even more awake for this one, Konchesky, Gabbidon and Ferdinand are all looking reasonably comfortable but Im concerned about Gabb’s aerial ability in particular.

There’s no doubt in my mind that West Ham need to pull out all the stops, but this one is too tough to call. Head over heart I would be satisfied with a spirited display from the boys and a 2-1 loss as City are a very decent side. A draw and I will be ecstatic. A win and I’ll be paralytic. Come on you Hammers!

City form: DLDLW
Hammers form: WWWDD

*includes Carling Cup