Team News:
West Ham United (18th, 19 points)
New arrivals Antonio Nocerino and Marco Borriello are expected to make their Upton Park debuts, while Abdul Razak is also in contention. But Deadline Day loan signing Pablo Armero didn’t sign in time to make the squad.
Joey O’Brien and Joe Cole are the only injury worries, while Mohamed Diame should have recovered in time after limping off in the 0-0 draw at Chelsea on Wednesday.
Swansea City (11th 24 points)
Jose Canas, Michu and Michel Vorm are all still sidelined for the Swans as Michael Laudrup has no fresh injury concerns.
Pre-match quotes:
Neil McDonald, West Ham United assistant manager…
“Swansea keep the ball and move it around the pitch pretty quickly, so we’ll have to be well organised, just like we were against Chelsea the other night.
“Then we’re got to get on the front foot a little quicker than we did on Wednesday, try to play the ball forward into the right areas and exploit their weaknesses, which we’ve work on at the training ground.
“We’ve got some good home games coming up and we’ve got to try and make as many points as we possibly can, and keep the fans onside, which they have been all season.”
Michael Laudrup, Swansea City manager…
“We know it will be a tough game because they are physically stronger than us. I’m sure they will try and use that. We know what to expect from Carroll, Nolan, Tomkins, Collins, Diame and others so it will be a tough afternoon.
“We have to be clever. If we sit back or concede too many free-kicks, they will bombard us.”
Last ten meetings:
Match in Numbers:
150 – If he plays, James Tomkins will make his 150th league appearance for the Hammers.
100 – Kevin Nolan is set to make his 100th league appearance for West Ham, all which would be starts.
50 – If he plays, Ricardo Vaz Te will make his 50th league appearance for the Hammers.
50 – If he starts, it will be Mohamed Diame‘s 50th in the league for West Ham.
150 – Carlton Cole could make his 150th league start for the Hammers.
9 – West Ham have take just nine points from their Premier League home fixtures this season, which is a divisional low.
6 – Adrian is currently averaging six saves a game, which is the highest in the Premier League
6 – Wilfried Bony has scored six goals in his last six games in all competitions for the Swans.
2 – Swansea have taken just two points from their last five away games, scoring just twice in that time as well.
0 – Andy Carroll is yet to get a shot on target in the three games since returning from injury.
Score predictions:
@WestHamWorld 2-2 or bore draw
— Frank Lynch (@FrankL5411) January 31, 2014
@WestHamWorld 1-0 noble pen
— Curious George (@GeorgeCurious83) January 31, 2014
@WestHamWorld 3-0 west ham carroll boriello n noble pen
— nev (@madhammer40) January 31, 2014
@WestHamWorld 1-0 West Ham with Carroll to score unless Armero can play, I’d say 3-0!!!
— Latest West ham news (@kaz7289) January 31, 2014
@WestHamWorld 2-0 Carroll & Borriello – Demel injured in warm up twisted neck checking out hammerette
— Dainon (@Dainon17) January 31, 2014
Head-to-Head (all competitions):
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GD +/- | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65 | 31 | 15 | 19 | 121 | 84 | +37 | 47.69% |
