Barclays Premier League
Goodison Park
Saturday 22 March
5.15pm
Referee: Mark Halsey
WHUTV - Pre-match press conference, plus live commentary to come
WESTHAM.WAP.COM - All the news, on the move
Introduction
* West Ham United, tenth in the Barclays Premier League, go to Everton with the chance to move to within three points of seventh place depending on results. The home side are three points behind rivals Liverpool, who occupy the last of the Champions League positions.
* Alan Curbishley's men are determined to return to the excellent away form that preceded two 4-0 defeats on the road at Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, with the latter club still seven points adrift of United in the table.
* West Ham United lost twice to Everton in quick succession at the Boleyn Ground earlier this season. On Wednesday 12 December, the Toffees won 2-1 in a League Cup quarter-final before a 2-0 top-flight success on Saturday 15 December.
* West Ham United's last success at Goodison Park came on 14 December 2005 when a David Weir own goal and Bobby Zamora strike cancelled out James Beattie's opener. Along with Zamora, only Anton Ferdinand and Hayden Mullins could potentially appear again this weekend.
Last match
West Ham United 2-1 Blackburn Rovers (15 March): Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Spector, McCartney, Solano (Sears 75), Mullins, Parker (Noble 75), Ljungberg (Pantsil 88), Zamora, Ashton
Subs not used: Wright, Tomkins
Goals: Ashton 39, Sears 81
Fulham 1-0 Everton (16 March): Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Yobo, Lescott, Carsley, Osman, Arteta, Pienaar (Baines 64), Johnson (Hibbert 14), Yakubu
Subs not used: Wessels, Nuno Valente, Rodwell
Goals: McBride 67
Team news
* Matthew Upson, named in the England squad to face France next Wednesday, may return after missing out on the last two fixtures with a calf injury suffered at Liverpool on 5 March. Jonathan Spector has deputised in both games. The US international was due back from an Olympic qualifier in Nashville, Tennessee late on Friday night.
* Anton Ferdinand has been training fully despite feeling a groin injury before the Blackburn win. James Tomkins, on the bench last week, demonstrated he was over his groin troubles with a strong 90 minutes for the reserves in a 2-1 midweek win against Reading.
* While Freddie Sears looks to build on his goalscoring debut last week, Tomkins, Kyel Reid and Jack Collison are also in the manager's thoughts for Everton. Sears and Tomkins are both on England U19 duty on Tuesday, the day before Collison is set to play for Wales Under-21s.
* Bobby Zamora has not trained all week because of blisters suffered against Spurs on 9 March. He had painkilling injections to play against Blackburn and is still in with a chance of figuring this weekend. Carlton Cole has also been hampered by a dead leg suffered in training a week ago that caused him to miss the Blackburn game.
* Luis Boa Morte is eligible to play after serving a one-match ban against Blackburn.
* Jimmy Walker will replace Richard Wright as substitute goalkeeper after his loan to Southampton.
* Julien Faubert is likely to sit out as the improving squad situation has allowed the medical staff to focus on getting him back to full fitness.
* Lee Bowyer and Matthew Etherington are both sidelined with groin injuries.
* Kieron Dyer also continues to make progress from his double leg-break. James Collins (cruciate knee ligaments) and Calum Davenport (neck) will not return this season.
* Craig Bellamy has had an abdominal strengthening operation and has been ruled out until April at the earliest. Danny Gabbidon (groin) is also some way off a first-team return as is Nigel Quashie (foot).
* For Everton, Andrew Johnson is fighting to be fit after picking up a groin strain early in their defeat at Fulham. Victor Anichebe (hip) is also a doubt having failed a fitness test before the Craven Cottage encounter. Fellow striker James Vaughan is out long-term with a knee injury.
* There are a number of midfield concerns for the hosts as well. Manuel Fernandes and Mikel Arteta both have groin problems and Thomas Gravesen (knee) is also doubtful. Tim Cahill has been sidelined of late with hip and foot trouble and Steven Pienaar also suffered a knock against Fulham.
Background
* After 30 games last season, West Ham United were seven points from safety and had just 23 points compared to the 43 they have achieved from the same number of matches this campaign.
* West Ham United and Everton last met on 15 December 2007 at the Boleyn Ground. A tight contest was settled by goals at the end of each half from Yakubu and Johnson
The lineups were:
West Ham United: Green, Neill (c), Collins, Upson, McCartney, Solano (Noble 60), Mullins (Reid 80), Parker, Ljungberg, Ashton, Cole (Camara 46)
Subs not used: Wright, Spector
Everton: Howard, Neville (c), Jagielka, Yobo, Lescott, Arteta, Osman, Carsley, Pienaar, Cahill, Yakubu (Johnson 87)
Subs: Wessels, Hibbert, Gravesen, McFadden
* Last season's meeting at Goodison Park came on Sunday 3 December 2006. The home side won 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Leon Osman (51) and Vaughan (90).
* The Hammers have still not lost in all 14 league games this season when they have taken the lead.
* Robert Green has kept eight clean sheets in 30 league games.
* George McCartney is bidding to make his 37th appearance this season in all competitions. He has not missed a match since the 4-3 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on 4 March 2007 - 45 games ago.
* McCartney is the only West Ham United player who has featured in every league and cup game to date, starting in each one.
* In terms of the Premier League, only Green has played every minute of the 30 matches.
* Carlton Cole is two cautions away from a ban after picking up eight yellow cards. The 'one-match ban for five cautions' rule was for all yellow cards up to the end of February. However, a player receiving ten cautions before the end of the second Sunday in April will be suspended for two matches, starting seven days after the tenth offence.
* Joleon Lescott is the only Everton player who has played in every Barclays Premier League game this season.
* Ashton, with seven goals, goals in the league, is the club's leading scorer. Yakubu, with 18 overall and 12 in the top-flight alone, is Everton's leading top-flight marksman.
* Everton have used 23 players in the Barclays Premier League this season. West Ham United have featured 27 different members of the squad to date.
* West Ham United will next be in action on Saturday 29 March when they go to Sunderland, the day before Everton travel to Liverpool for the Merseyside derby.
Head to head (Last six Barclays Premier League meetings)
15 December 2007 - West Ham United 0-2 Everton
21 April 2007 - West Ham United 1-0 Everton
3 December 2006 - Everton 2-0 West Ham United
4 March 2006 - West Ham United 2-2 Everton
14 December 2005 - Everton 1-2 West Ham United
15 March 2003 - Everton 0-0 West Ham United
All-time record v Everton (all competitions) - W 36, D 23 L 58
Barclays Premier League fixtures
Saturday 22 March (kick-off 3pm unless stated)
Aston Villa v Sunderland
Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic
Bolton Wanderers v Manchester City
Middlesbrough v Derby County
Newcastle United v Fulham
Reading v Birmingham City
Tottenham Hotspur v Portsmouth (12.45pm)
Sunday 23 March
Chelsea v Arsenal (4pm)
Manchester United v Liverpool (1.30pm)
General information
Tickets: This match is SOLD OUT. For general ticket information, click here. For details of getting to Goodison Park, click here
Weather: The forecast is for an rain. The temperature is set to peak at around 5C.