Peter Parka
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| Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:05 pm Middlesbrough Game |
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From the BBC
Middlesbrough v West Ham
The Riverside
Saturday, 11 November
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live, Score on BBCi & highlights on MOTD
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Middlesbrough team news to follow later.
West Ham have doubts over defender Anton Ferdinand (Achilles) and striker Bobby Zamora (ankle).
George McCartney could be asked to fill in after coming off the bench in the win over Arsenal, but James Collins is also pressing for a start.
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West Ham (from): Green, Spector, Ferdinand, McCartney, Collins, Gabbidon, Konchesky, Benayoun, Bowyer, Mullins, Reo-Coker, Etherington, Zamora, Harewood, Sheringham, Tevez, Mascherano, Carroll.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
MIDDLESBROUGH and West Ham have identical records. They've each won three, drawn two and lost six Premiership matches this season, averaging a point a game. The Teessiders have conceded two more goals, which is why they are one place lower than the Hammers in a disappointing 16th.
Gareth Southgate's 12-week dispensation period for not having the Uefa Pro-License required for all top flight managers runs out on the day of this match, but the Premier League are expected to amend a ruling which would give Southgate a period of grace to complete the course he has already begun.
'Boro hold an unbeaten home Premiership record against the Hammers, and will be keen to avenge their 0-1 FA Cup semi-final defeat in the most recent contest between the clubs.
WEST HAM UNITED arrive on Teesside buoyant after following an eight-match losing sequence in League and Cup, with back-to-back home Premiership victories over Blackburn and Arsenal. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, are coming off two successive top flight away defeats to Manchester City and Watford - the latter completing a hat trick of losses to the promoted clubs.
The Hammers will run out at the Riverside, seeking a 20th top tier victory under Alan Pardew, in the manager's 50th Premiership match in charge.
A 0-1 victory in the old Second Division on 3 March 1990 is West Ham's only maximum in 11 League games on Teesside. Their most recent top flight triumph there was 2-3 at Ayresome Park on 20 March 1982.
REFEREE
Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
MIDDLESBROUGH
Club stats
Fixtures
16th 11 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 11th
Lowest could fall: 16th
1. Won only two out of 10 in all competitions.
2. Lost four of six Premiership outings, including the last two.
3. Only Newcastle and Charlton have lost more top League matches than Middlesbrough and West Ham. The combatants at the Riverside have been beaten six times in the Premiership so far this season, Newcastle and Charlton seven times each.
4. Only Reading have conceded more goals in the highest division than Middlesbrough (17, to 'Boro's 16).
5. Failed to score in eight of their last 15 Premier League encounters, including the last two. Not netted in 185 minutes (three hours five minutes) of Premiership football, since Yakubu netted a late winner against Newcastle on 22 October).
6. Two goals shy of conceding 600 all time in the Premier League.
7. Won the last two League engagements on home turf, but shipped seven goals in five fixtures in front of the home faithful. Only Reading have leaked more home goals in the top table (eight).
8. Only once have the Teessiders had less than 11 points after the first 11 games of a Premiership season. That was in the 2000-01 season when they had 10, and eventually ended that campaign in 14th place.
9. Three tough Premiership fixtures follow this, home to Liverpool, away to Aston Villa and home to Manchester United.
WEST HAM UNITED
Club stats
Fixtures
15th 11 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 11th
Lowest could fall: 20th
1. Not managed three Premiership victories on the spin mid season since posting five in a row between 14 January and 13 February this year. But the Hammers did end last season with two League wins, and opening this current campaign with another.
2. Registered three Premiership victories so far this term - the opener, and the most recent two - between them the Hammers picked up two points from a possible 24.
3. When West Ham last accumulated as few as 11 points from the first 11 games of a Premiership season, in 2002-03, they were eventually relegated.
4. Kept just one top tier clean sheet this season (against Arsenal last Sunday).
5. The opposition have scored first in eight of West Ham's top League games - more than any other club.
6. Completed 17 League games since a goalless draw (home to Charlton on 2 April).
7. One of eight clubs still to win away from home in this Premiership campaign.
8. Gained only one point away from Upton Park (1-1 draw at Watford on 22 August).
9. The Hammers have a London derby with champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after this, before entertaining Sheffield United.
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
MIDDLESBROUGH
Squad profiles
Aiyegbeni YAKUBU is Middlesbrough's top scorer with four goals.
Goalkeeper Mark SCHWARZER and Emanuel POGATETZ are the only players to have been on the field for every minute of Middlesbrough's Premiership matches this season.
When he next plays from the outset, Chris RIGGOTT will be making his 100th start for the Riversiders.
WEST HAM UNITED
Squad profiles
Bobby ZAMORA is West Ham's leading scorer with five goals - all in the Premiership.
ZAMORA needs one more to total 100 League goals.
Marlon HAREWOOD is a hat trick short of 100 career League goals (Nottingham Forest, Ipswich and West Ham).
If he plays, Lee BOWYER will be making his 300th career Premiership appearance (Leeds, West Ham and Newcastle).
Daniel GABBIDON and Nigel REO-COKER are the only remaining West Ham players to have started all of the Hammers' Premiership matches this season.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
West Ham United 2-1 Middlesbrough
23 October 2005 - Ref: Steve Bennett
West Ham scorers: Sheringham 66, Riggott 74 og
Middlesbrough scorer: Queudrue 87
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and away
League: Middlesbrough 21 wins, West Ham 19, Draws 10
Prem: Middlesbrough 8 wins, West Ham 6, Draws 2
at Middlesbrough only
League: Middlesbrough 14 wins, West Ham 5, Draws 6
Prem: Middlesbrough 7 wins, West Ham 0, Draws 1 |
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