Preview: Cardiff City vs. West Ham United

There will be contrasting emotions in the two dugouts on Saturday as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer begins life as a Premier League boss by welcoming Sam Allardyce's battered and bruised West Ham United to Cardiff City.

Former Manchester United striker Solskjaer is embarking on a new challenge having taken the reins of Vincent Tan's outfit, while Allardyce may be coming to the end of his latest managerial adventure following a horrible festive period for the Hammers.

Consecutive cup drubbings and a 19th-place position in the top-flight table have seen the experienced tactician come under heavy criticism from the Upton Park fans, who are passionately calling for his head.

While co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have been publicly supportive so far, a negative result against the Bluebirds could send the West Ham protests into overdrive and force them into a rethink.

Allardyce's depleted defence is still missing Winston Reid, James Tomkins and James Collins, and while there is promising news on the fitness of record signing Andy Carroll, he won't be fit for the trip to Wales.

Recent loan capture Roger Johnson appears poised to continue at centre-back alongside makeshift partner Joey O'Brien, and Modibo Maiga appears to be the preferred choice to Carlton Cole up front.

Ravel Morrison has brushed off speculation over his future this week and could be in line for a recall in midfield, where the Londoners are without suspended captain Kevin Nolan, while Joe Cole and Matt Jarvis, both in and out of the side of late, are two of the options available to Allardyce on the right wing.

Cardiff signed Magnus Wolff Eikrem from Heerenveen on Wednesday and the 23-year-old is in contention for his first start for the club, although Solskjaer may retain many of the XI that finished the match that marked his debut in English management with victory over Newcastle United in the FA Cup third round.

Goalscoring substitutes Frazier Campbell and Craig Noone could be recalled to the starting lineup, as could Steven Caulker and Gary Medel, who both sat out the visit to St James' Park. Jordan Mutch, Kevin Theophile-Catherine, Craig Bellamy and Andrew Taylor are all expected to miss out through injury.

Recent form

Cardiff: LDLLWL

West Ham: LDLLDL

Possible starting lineups

Cardiff: Marshall; McNaughton, Caulker, Turner, John; Medel; Noone, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Odemwingie; Campbell

West Ham: Adrian; Demel, Johnson, O'Brien, McCartney; Noble, Diame, Morrison; J.Cole, Downing, Maiga

Sports Mole says: 3-1