West Ham vs Manchester City: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Upton Park

Joseph Cross
Saturday 25 October 2014 12:21 BST
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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce (GETTY IMAGES)

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Sam Allardyce couldn’t have asked for much more for his 60th birthday last weekend, with West Ham delivering a superb performance to brush aside Premier League newcomers, Burnley.

Allardyce will be looking to avoid any post birthday Blues with the current champions, Manchester City, their next opponent.

City will have to put their mid-week disappointment behind them and turn their focus back to the domestic campaign. Manuel Pellegrini will know they can’t afford to drop anymore points, with leaders Chelsea looking impervious at the summit of the table. The Chilean manager will be looking for Sergio Aguero to continue his fine goalscoring form going into the weekend fixture as they attempt to claw back vital points on Jose Mourinho’s men.

West Ham are a side brimming with confidence, having won three out of their last four games leaving them in fourth place after eight games. Allardyce will be buoyed by the success of his new strike force, which has in turn given the Hammers fans the style of football they have been yearning for in recent times.

Central to this striking success has been the Senegalese summer signing, Diafra Sakho, who has found the net at least once in his last five games. In the absence of Andy Carroll, West Ham have an in form striker who will give Kompany and co plenty to think about come Saturday.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 12:45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Man City 2 (Nasri, Kompany) West Ham 0 Premier League, May 2014

West ham 0 Man City 3 (Negredo 2, Aguero) Capital One Cup, January 2014

Man City 6 (Negredo 3, Yaya Toure, Dzeko 2) West ham 0 Capital One Cup, January 2014

STATS…

West Ham have conceded 14 goals against Man City in their last 4 meetings in all competitions.

Man City have only kept two clean sheets in the Premier League this season.

West Ham have scored in their last eight fixtures in all competitions.

Sam Allardyce is the 10 longest serving manger in English football.

ODDS…

West Ham to win: 6.6

Man City to win: 1.6

Draw: 4.7

CLASSIC MOMENT/MATCH

West Ham will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their 9-0 defeat over two legs in last season’s Capital One Cup. Alvaro Negredo netted a hat-trick at The Etihad, piling more pressure on Allardyce after a run of poor results. The board chose to back Big Sam and West Ham’s fortunes soon took a turn for the better.

TV: Live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 1 HD Saturday, 12:45pm, highlights on BBC1 at 10.25pm.

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