Match Preview: The Big One!
Last updated : 07 May 2004 By Paul Farrington
Last game played on
Tuesday 4th May 2004 | Pld | | Home | | Away | | Overall | | Pts | GD |
| W | D | L | F | A | | W | D | L | F | A | | W | D | L | F | A |
PermutationsNo matter what happens, for us to even have a small shot at the playoffs, we
must beat West Ham, and hope other results go our way.
 | Jewell knows it's all still to play for |
|
The Hammers are pretty much assured of a playoff place after a cracking 4-0 against Watford last weekend. They are sitting on equal points with Crystal Palace but have a superior goal difference.
For the Latics to replace West Ham in the playoff places, we would have to beat them 4-0, far from impossible, but very unlikely.
Sheffield United and Reading are sitting below ourselves, equal on points but with smaller goal differences, as a result, we are the favourites, if any, to nick a playoff place.
Coventry play host to Crystal Palace. The Sky Blues have just this week appointed Peter Reid as their boss so perhaps this is a blessing in disguise as the Coventry players try to impress their new boss. For us to nick the Eagles place we would have to beat West Ham and pray for a Coventry victory.
Cardiff City meanwhile could do us a huge favour if the come away from Portman Road with anything other than a defeat. If this happens and we beat West Ham, then we will take Town's place in the playoffs.
The Match Itself
Here is how both sides have faired in their last six games.
The Hammers have faired better over their last six games.
The Hammers last six gamesReading 2 - 0
West Ham
West Ham 0 - 0 Derby County
Crystal Palace 1 - 0
West HamWest Ham 2 - 0 Coventry City
Stoke City 0 - 2
West HamWest Ham 4 - 0 Watford
Our last six games
Gillingham 0 - 3
WAFC Norwich 2 - 0
WAFCWAFC 3 - 0 Cardiff
Crystal Palace 1 - 1
WAFC
WAFC 0 - 0 Sunderland
Nottingham Forest 1 - 0
WAFC
West Ham Team News
David Connolly returns to the fold for West Ham which should give boss Pardew a selection headache after Harewood scored a double in the 4-0 victory at Watford last week. Zamora could well make way for the prolific Irish forward.
Tomas Repka returns after his 3-match ban and could get his place back on the side at Anton Ferdinand's cost, while Christian Dailly looks set to play despite hamstring trouble.
West Ham (Probable): Bywater, Repka, Dailly, Mullins, Melville, Lomas, Etherington, Carrick, Hutchinson, Harewood, Connolly.
One-to-watch
Mathew Etherington
Etherington (above) started his career at Barry Fry's Peterborough before leaving for the bright lights of the Premiership with Spurs.
He is a pacey left winger with a nice box of tricks and will cause Nicky Eaden plenty of problems down their left flank.
Latics Team News
McCulloch seems to be the major injury doubt ahead of this game after he got studs to the back of his knee at the City Ground last Saturday. It seems more than likely that the big Scot will have to sit the game out.
Andy Liddell and Neil Roberts are in line to replace him, with Liddell seemingly the favourite to get the nod as a result of his great goalscoring ability.
Jason Jarrett is free to play after his suspension but will do well to displace Gareth Farrelly after he put in a superb performance at Forest last week.
Jason Roberts is still suspended after his silly sending off at Palace. Leaving Ellington (above right) as our major threat to the West Ham goal. If the Duke performs to his best then we should have no problem on Sunday.
Wigan (Probable): Filan, Eaden, Baines, de Vos, Breckin, Teale, Mahon, Bullard, Farrelly, Liddell, Ellington.
Wiganer.net Predicts a 4-0 win to the Latics. I had to do it. It's the one result that would guarentee us a place in the playoffs so I had to go for it. Scorers... erm, Ellington for a classy hat-trick and de Vos with a thumping header. Here's to hoping.
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