MX23RW : Wednesday, December 11 22:24:19| >> :120:37402:37402:

Preview: West Ham United vs. West Bromwich Albion

Sports Mole previews the New Year's Day meeting between West Ham and managerless West Brom at Upton Park.

Managerless West Bromwich Albion will look to begin a new era when they welcome West Ham United to Upton Park on January 1.

The Baggies ended 2014 with three defeats in a row, a run that ultimately cost Alan Irvine his job as he became the second Premier League boss to be sacked in a matter of days.

A 2-0 loss to Stoke City on Sunday was the final straw for the board, who will reportedly turn to Tony Pulis in an attempt to drag themselves away from danger.

Just one point now separates them from the bottom three, but Pulis has previous in saving teams having worked wonders with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last season.

Whoever the new boss is, one of his main priorities will be to improve West Brom's away record this season. Just three teams have amassed fewer points on the road than the Baggies, who have also failed to score in three of their last four away games.

Saido Berahino has struggled to rediscover his early-season form of late, but could return to the starting lineup after Brown Ideye fired blanks against the Potters.

West Brom have denied reports that the young striker is set to join Liverpool during the January transfer window, but they could be tempted to cash in should he not begin to find the net again sooner rather than later.

There was a time that Sam Allardyce's job as West Ham manager appeared to be under threat, but a fabulous first half to the season has helped to silence the critics and prove the doubters wrong.

Whether the Hammers can maintain their unlikely push for European football throughout the second half of the campaign remains to be seen, but they will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways against a West Brom side in disarray.

West Ham dropped down to sixth courtesy of a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, but they will be keen to cash in on at least one of the two teams directly above them dropping points due to Southampton hosting the Gunners.

That loss was their first at Upton Park since August and, with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool already being dispatched in East London this season, it is a daunting task for the Baggies.

Allardyce will be without the suspended James Tomkins after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season just before the amnesty, so James Collins should return to the starting lineup.

West Ham:

Recent form: WWDWLL

Possible starting lineup: Adrian; Jenkinson, Collins, Reid, Cresswell; Song, Nolan, Noble, Downing; Sakho, Carroll

West Brom:

Recent form: LDWLLL

Possible starting lineup: Foster; Wisdom, McAuley, Lescott, Pocognoli; Sessegnon, Gardner, Morrison, Brunt, Dorrans; Berahino

Sports Mole says: 2-0


ID:196280: cacheID:196280:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5483:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Tony Pulis manager of Crystal Palace gives instructions during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on February 2, 2014
Read Next:
Report: West Brom begin Pulis talks
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!