Barclays Premier League
Manchester City v West Ham United
City of Manchester Stadium
Sunday 20 January
4pm
Referee: Phil Dowd
WHUTV - Full audio commentary plus Alan Curbishley and Matthew Upson
Team news
Alan Curbishley expects to have largely the same squad that was unlucky to lose at the City of Manchester Stadium in midweek. Julien Faubert is pushing for a starting berth, having got half-an-hour in the 1-0 FA Cup third-round defeat while Hayden Mullins and Carlton Cole, who sat out on the night for Lee Bowyer and Luis Boa Morte, are also in contention.
Danny Gabbidon and particularly James Collins are waiting in the wings for a defensive opportunity while Nolberto Solano is getting closer to his return. Craig Bellamy and Bobby Zamora continue to take part in full training. Bellamy could be back in action before the end of the month while the manager has reported more positive news on Kieron Dyer, who is running again. John Pantsil and Henri Camara are at the African Cup of Nations.
For City, Nery Castillo picked up a shoulder injury on Wednesday and looks to be out as is Emile Mpenza, who is resting a hamstring injury. Michael Johnson is also sidelined with an abdominal problem. Valeri Bojinov, who played in City's 2-0 win at the Boleyn Ground on the first day of the season, is out with a long-term knee problem.
Background
Curbishley's side are in fine league form, with six wins and four draws from the last 13 fixtures. The only three reverses came against strong opposition in the form of Chelsea, Everton and Arsenal. Depending on Portsmouth's result on Saturday, a win would take tenth-placed West Ham United up to ninth in the table while they are six points ahead of Newcastle United in eleventh. Victory would also leave them just four points behing seventh-placed City with a game in hand.
The 2007/08 league season started with City's trip to the Boleyn Ground and it was the first game in charge for new manager Sven-Goran Eriksson. Rolando Bianchi (18) and Geovanni (87) scored both goals. That was followed by the first FA Cup third-round meeting on 5 January when neither side could break the deadlock in a contest that saw Robert Green and Joe Hart excel.
Wednesday night's replay was again a tight affair and only a 73rd-minute headed goal from Elano separated the sides. Dean Ashton, Boa Morte and Bowyer all had good opportunities but found Hart in fine form again. The lineups were:
West Ham United: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Ljungberg (Faubert 62), Noble, Bowyer, Etherington, Boa Morte (Cole 70), Ashton
Subs not used: Wright, Spector, Mullins
Manchester City: Hart, Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Elano, Petrov, Castillo (Bianchi 34), Vassell (Gelson 81)
Subs not used: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Garrido
The Hammers have still not lost in all nine league games this season when they have taken the lead while three of the last five league games have seen the side come from behind to win 2-1. George McCartney, who is on four cautions, is bidding to make his 28th appearance this season in all competitions - and is the only West Ham United player who has featured in every game to date, starting in each one. In terms of the Premier League, only Green - who turned 28 on Friday - and Upson have played every minute of the 21 matches. No other top-flight club still has two league ever-presents. Ashton, with six goals, five in the league, is the club's leading scorer.
For City, only Martin Petrov has started every top-flight game this season, although Vedran Corluka has appeared in each fixture. Elano with seven goals, five in the league, is the club's top scorer. The 2-0 win on the opening day was one of only two away wins in the league this season. Prior to the 1-0 Everton away reverse last weekend, City had not lost in the previous five league games - three of which had been drawn - since 9 December.
It is at the CIty of Manchester Stadium, where City are particularly impressive. They have won nine and drawn two of their eleven league games there this season and conceded just seven goals. Only Manchester United and Arsenal have a better record. City did lose 2-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur, however, in the Carling Cup quarter-finals on 18 December.
Head to head (last six meetings, league unless stated)
16 January 2008 - Manchester City 1-0 West Ham United (FA Cup)
5 January 2008 - West Ham United 0-0 Manchester City (FA Cup)
11 August 2007 - West Ham United 0-2 Manchester City
30 December 2006 - West Ham United 0-1 Manchester City
23 September 2006 - Manchester City 2-0 West Ham United
15 April 2006 - West Ham United 1-0 Manchester City
Overall record v Manchester City (all competitions): W 34, D 13, L 38
Barclays Premier League fixtures (all 3pm unless stated)
Saturday 19 January
Birmingham City v Chelsea
Blackburn Rovers v Middlesbrough
Fulham v Arsenal
Newcastle United v Bolton Wanderers (5.15pm)
Portsmouth v Derby County
Reading v Manchester United
Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland
Sunday 20 January
Wigan Athletic v Everton (1.30pm)
General information
For ticket information, click here. For details of getting to the City of Manchester Stadium, click here
Weather: The forecast is for rain. The temperature is set to peak at around 10C.