WEST HAM UNITED v DONCASTER ROVERS
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 10 MARCH 2012
KICK-OFF: 3pm
FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
· West Ham United continue their push for promotion with the visit of Doncaster Rovers on Saturday afternoon. This will be Doncaster's first visit to the Boleyn Ground since 19 October 1957 when Vic Keeble scored for the Hammers in a 1-1 draw.
· The 1957-58 season turned out to be a fantastic one for West Ham United as it marked the club's first ever promotion to the top flight of English football, with the Hammers going on to win the old Division Two and Doncaster finishing last.
· West Ham United go into the game having gained four points from the last two games; a win in Cardiff on Sunday preceded a tough draw against Watford on Wednesday evening.
· Doncaster are struggling at the foot of the npower Championship table but they earned what could be a vital three points against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday evening with a 3-2 win.
Us and Them
· Doncaster midfielder Giles Barnes, the nephew of former Hammers player Bobby Barnes, is on a six-month contract at the Keepmoat Stadium.
· Players to have represented both clubs include Rufus Brevett, Brian Deane, Fred Dell, Trevor Hartley, Jack Kirkaldie, Billy Linwood, Paul Marquis, George Ratcliffe, Fred Shreeve, Hal Tate, George Wagstaffe, Albert Walker.
Last Meeting
The last meeting between the two clubs was on the second weekend of the season back on the 16 August 2011. It was the Hammers' first game at Doncaster's Keepmoat stadium and an early Kevin Nolan goal gave West Ham all three points in a game they dominated from start to finish.
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Ilunga (Stanislas 86), Parker, Noble, Collison (Sears 72), Nolan, Taylor, Piquionne (Cole 62)
Subs not used: Boffin, Faye
Goals: Nolan (5)
Doncaster Rovers: Woods, Dumbuya, Naylor, Friend, Spurr, Coppinger, Gillett (Hird 82), Oster, Bennett (Keegan 76), Brown, Barnes (Baxendale 76)
Subs not used: Sullivan, Radford
Last Six Meetings~
(Championship unless stated)
13 August 2011 Doncaster Rovers 0-1 West Ham United
1 March 1958 Doncaster Rovers 1-2 West Ham United (old Division Two)
19 October 1957 West Ham United 1-1 Doncaster Rovers (old Division Two)
16 March 1957 West Ham United 1-1 Doncaster Rovers (old Division Two)
3 November 1956 Doncaster Rovers 3-0 West Ham United (old Division Two)
26 March 1956 Doncaster Rovers 2-1 West Ham United (old Division Two)
Overall record v Doncaster Rovers (all competitions) W 7 D 5 L 10
Ten-Year Records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted to Premier League via play-offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
Doncaster Rovers
2010/11 Championship 21st (48 points)
2009/10 Championship 12th (60 points)
2008/09 Championship 14th (58 points)
2007/08 League One 3rd (80 points - promoted to Championship)
2006/07 League One 11th (63 points)
2005/06 League One 8th (69 points)
2004/05 League One 10th (66 points)
2003/04 Third Division (now League Two) 1st (92 points - promoted to League One)
2002/03 Conference 4th (67 points)
2001/02 Conference 9th (58 points)
Team news
West Ham United
· Danny Collins will go straight into the squad after signing from Stoke City on loan for the rest of the season. With Winston Reid still struggling with the head injury picked up playing for New Zealand last week, Collins could be in line to play.
· Ricardo Vaz Te will be pushing for a starting berth after coming off the bench to score in the 1-1 draw with Palace. Fellow forwards John Carew and Rob Hall have both returned to training following back and knee injuries respectively.
· Midfielder Papa Bouba Diop and right back Guy Demel are still unavailable for selection.
· Pablo Barrera and Jordan Spence are on season-long loans at Real Zaragoza and Bristol City respectively. Freddie Piquionne (Doncaster Rovers), Marek Stech (Leyton Orient), Freddie Sears (Colchester United), Olly Lee (Gillingham), Cristian Montano (Notts County), Peter Kurucz (both Rochdale), Callum Driver (Burton Albion) and George Moncur (AFC Wimbledon) are all out on temporary loans.
Doncaster Rovers
· Former Hammer Herita Ilunga could make his debut for Rovers after signing for the club on Friday morning. On-loan striker Freddie Piquionne will not be involved though as per the terms of his loan deal from West Ham United.
· Tommy Spur is likely to miss out with a groin injury.
Wednesday 7 March 2012
npower Championship
West Ham United 1-1 Watford
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien (Lansbury 74), Tomkins, Faye, McCartney, Noble, Nolan, Taylor (Vaz Te 74), Faubert, Maynard (Baldock 62), Cole
Subs not used: Boffin, O'Neil
Goals: Vaz Te (87)
Tuesday 6 March 2012
npower Championship
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers: Ikeme, Chimbonda, Martis, Beye, Spurr (Hird 49), Coppinger, Gillett, Barnes, Piquionne (Bagayoko 64), Bennett, Diouf (Oster 70)
Subs not used: Hayter, Robert
Goals: Piquionne (44), Bennett (47)
Referee
Saturday's referee will be 47-year-old Andy D'Urso.
·The experienced official will take charge of his eleventh npower Championship fixture.
·D'Urso was first promoted to the Football League list of referees in 1994, being named on the Select list of Premier League referees five years later.
·In 2001 he was nominated for FIFA status, taking charge of his first full international in May 2004 when the Republic of Ireland met Nigeria.
·D'Urso had refereed six West Ham United fixtures previously - the most recent being the 4-0 home npower Championship victory over Blackpool on 15 October 2011.
·Saturday's referee has taken charge of just one Doncaster match this season. D'Urso oversaw Rovers 3-2 defeatto Millwall on the 29 November 2011.
·This season, in all competitions, he has shown 31 yellow cards in ten npower Championship matches.
Next Up
West Ham United will face a tricky away trip to Leeds United on Saturday 17 March whilst Doncaster Rovers play host to high-flying Reading on the evening of Tuesday 13 March.
General
· The game has been allocated Kids for a Quid. Tickets will be available on the day from the ticket office.
· The forecast is for a warm, cloudy afternoon in east London with temperatures hitting 16c.