Preview: West Ham United vs. West Bromwich Albion

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