LEEDS UNITED V WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 17 MARCH 2012
KICK-OFF: 3pm
FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
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Introduction
• West Ham United travel to Yorkshire looking for their third away victory in succession, having beaten Blackpool and Cardiff City on the road in recent weeks.
• West Ham sit in third place after a 1-1 home draw against Doncaster Rovers last time out. Reading's Tuesday night 1-1 draw at Doncaster meant they leapfrogged the Hammers into second place. Leeds are in tenth position but are only four points off a Play-Off spot.
• Leeds United go into the game with new manager Neil Warnock taking charge of only his fifth game as Leeds boss.
• West Ham United are just one win away from 11 away wins, which would equal the club's best-ever return on the road.
• The Hammers have not visited Elland Road since February 2005, when Leeds United snatched a 2-1 Championship win.
• Leeds have won 14 of the last 19 meetings between the clubs, with the Hammers only tasting victory in two of 26 matches played over the last 29 years.
Team news
West Ham United
• Joey O'Brien is likely to be back in the squad for the trip to Yorkshire, but injured quintet Ricardo Vaz Te, Winston Reid, Julien Faubert, Guy Demel and Papa Bouba Diop will miss out.
• Vaz Te is expect to be out for around a week, meaning he will miss Saturday's game and the home match with Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
• Ravel Morrison will be hoping to be involved once more after being on the bench for the first time against Doncaster Rovers. The midfielder scored a brace for the Development Squad in a 2-0 win at Brentford in midweek.
Leeds United
• The hosts could be boosted by the return of winger Robbie Rogers from the head injury he suffered in mid-February. Leigh Bromby and Alex Bruce could both be in contention after returning to light training.
• Andy O'Brien will miss out along with other long-term abstentees Mika Vayrynen, Patrick Kisnorbo and Davide Somma.
Last time out
Saturday 10 March 2012
npower Championship
West Ham United 1-1 Doncaster Rovers
West Ham United: Green, McCartney, Faye, Tomkins, Taylor, Noble, Lansbury (O'Neil 57), Nolan (Collins 80), Collison, Cole, Vaz Te (Baldock 25)
Subs not used: Maynard, Morrison
Goal: Nolan (9)
Sunday 11 March 2012
npower Champsionship
Middlesbrough 0-2 Leeds United
Leeds United: Lonergan, Connolly, Lees, White, Robinson, O'Dea, Brown, Clayton (Pugh 90), Becchio (Forssell 90), Snodgrass, McCormack (Webber 87)
Subs not used: Nunez, Thompson
Goals: Snodgrass (18), Becchio (27)
Last six meetings
(Championship unless stated)
21 August 2011 - West Ham United 2-2 Leeds United
26 February 2005 - Leeds United 2-1 West Ham United
10 December 2004 - West Ham United 1-1 Leeds United
8 February 2003 - Leeds United 1-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
10 November 2002 - West Ham United 3-4 Leeds United (Premier League)
1 January 2002 - Leeds United 3-0 West Ham United (Premier League)
Overall record v Leeds United (all competitions) W 27 D 28 L 48
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points, relegated to Championship)
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)
Leeds United
2010/11 Championship 14th (61 points)
2009/10 League One 2nd (86 points, promoted to Championship)
2008/09 League One 4th (84 points)
2007/08 League One 5th (76 points)
2006/07 Championship 24th (36 points, relegated to League One)
2005/06 Championship 5th (78 pointsf)
2004/05 Championship 14th (52 points)
2003/04 Premier League 19th (33 points, relegated to Championship)
2002/03 Premier League 15th (47 points)
2001/02 Premier League 5th (66 points)
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Peter Walton.
• The 51-year-old began his refereeing career in 1986, was appointed to the Football League List of assistant referees in 1993, and the Premier League List of assistant referees the following year.
• After running the line during the 1996 FA Cup final between Manchester United and Liverpool at Wembley, Walton joined the FIFA list of assistant referees and ran the line during the 1996 UEFA European Championship group-stage fixture between Germany and Czech Republic at Old Trafford.
• Walton, who lists golf and current affairs among his hobbies, joined the Football League List of referees in 1998 and joined the Premier League Select List in 2003.
• Walton's first West Ham United appointment came on 21 November 2004, when the Hammers were defeated 1-0 at Millwall in the Championship.
• In 2007, he was part of a group of referees who travelled to Ecuador to undertake an Advanced Course for Referees' Instructors on behalf of the FA and CONMEBOL.
• Walton will be assisted this afternoon by Scott Ledger and Glenn Turner, while the fourth official will be Geoff Eltringham.
• Walton's most-recent West Ham United game came in May 2011 when the Hammers drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League. His previous Leeds United appointment came in 1-0 home League One defeat by Southampton on 13 March 2010.
Old Boys
• Players who have represented both clubs include Lee Bowyer, Sebastien Carole, Lee Chapman, Mervyn Day, Brian Deane, Rio Ferdinand, Alf Harwood, William Jackson, Matt Kilgallon, Dave Mangnall and George Speak.
Next up
• West Ham United welcome Middlesbrough to the Boleyn Ground on Tuesday 20 March for a 7.45pm kick-off, while Leeds United will play host to Nottingham Forest on the same evening.
General Information
• West Ham United have sold all 5,000 standard tickets for Saturday's game.
• Saturday's forecast for Leeds is for sunny intervals with a chance of showers. The maximum temperature for the day is expected to be around 10C (50F).