Preview: West Ham United vs. West Bromwich Albion

West Ham United haven't been far from the headlines over the past week due to their successful bid to secure the Olympic Stadium, and reports that manager Sam Allardyce is close to signing a new contract.

The Hammers won't be able to grace their new home until 2016, so until then, the club have a Premier League encounter against eighth-placed West Bromwich Albion to focus on.

The main priority for West Ham at the start of the campaign was to remain in the top flight, and if they manage to snatch maximum points from the Baggies, they could be nine points clear of the drop zone

At the other end of the pitch, West Brom are unlikely to clinch a place in the top four, despite a strong surge at the start of the season as they currently sit 10 points adrift of a Champions League spot.

The Baggies haven't lost a league fixture in two games, while West Ham head into the match on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea before the international break.

Andy Carroll is likely to be chosen ahead of Carlton Cole by Allardyce, while West Brom head coach Steve Clarke could hand Romelu Lukaku a lone striker role up top.

Recent form

West Ham: LWLLW

West Brom: DWLWW

Possible starting lineups

West Ham: Jaaskelainen; O'Brien, Reid, Collins, Demel; Taylor, O'Neil, Diame; Vaz Te, Carroll, Jarvis

West Brom: Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Thomas, Yacob, Morrison, Mulumbu, Brunt; Lukaku

Sports Mole says: 1-1