Manchester United vs West Ham United
FA Cup, Third Round Replay (16th January, 2013 – 20:05 KO)
Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson on team selection: “Both (Rooney and Nani) will play… Both are fit. We’ve got a strong squad, you know. There won’t be many changes.”
So Wayne Rooney and Nani will return to the side. Jonny Evans is unlikely to be risked. While the injuries picked up by Nemanja Vidic and Ashley Young in the weekend’s defeat of Liverpool are not as serious as first feared, neither will play. Anderson, who was back on the bench on Sunday, should feature. With the trip to Tottenham on the weekend, expect the pack to be at least slightly shuffled, with the likes of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez all likely to be involved at some point.
Predicted United line-up: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Smalling, Evra, Cleverley, Anderson, Nani, Valencia, Hernandez, Rooney
FA Cup record v West Ham: P9 W3 D2 L4 F17 A13
FA Cup record at home: P191 W123 D36 L32 F396 A170
FA Cup form: W W L W L D
West Ham United
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce on injury headaches: “It’s not great from a defensive point of view… It’s less than the bare bones at the moment.”
West Ham have almost United-like defensive injury problems; the Hammers travel up to Manchester without several first-team players. Two-goal hero from the first game, James Collins, misses out with a hamstring injury. He is joined by George McCartney and Joey O’Brien, leaving them short at the back. Mark Noble, Mohammed Diame, Modibo Maiga and Andy Carroll are also on the treatment table. Of those, Mark Noble could play, fitness test permitting. After his two assists last time out, Joe Cole will likely start.
Predicted West Ham United line-up: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Potts, Tomkins, Reid, Nolan, Diarra, Collison, Jarvis, Cole, Cole
Recent meetings at Old Trafford: United 1-0 West Ham (28-11-12), United 3-0 West Ham (28-8-10), United 3-0 West Ham (23-2-10), United 2-0 West Ham (29-10-08),
Referee: Phil Dowd. Has officiated 21 matches this season, dishing out 74 yellow cards and 3 reds. Has awarded (a massive) 10 penalties, including 2 in the same match on 3 occasions.
2012/13 head-to-head (PL)
Goals: (United) 56 – (West Ham) 24
Conceded: 29 – 27
Top scorer: Robin van Persie (17) – Kevin Nolan (5)
Assists: Wayne Rooney (7) – Various (2)
Disciplinary: 36 yellows, 0 reds – 44 yellows, 1 red
Shots per game: 15.8 – 12.5
Average Possession: 57.8% – 45.0%
Pass success rate: 86.8% – 75.0%
Best passer: Michael Carrick (88.2%) – Mark Noble (83.1%)
Most appearances: Carrick, Evra (21) – Jaaskelainen, Reid (21)
Notes
With Sir Alex Ferguson in charge, United have only ever gone out of the FA Cup in the third round on one occasion (v Leeds, 09/10).
West Ham haven’t scored a goal at Old Trafford since Dean Ashton’s consolation in a 4-1 defeat, almost 5 years ago.
Wayne Rooney is United’s third-highest goal scorer v West Ham, with 8 goals in 10 matches. George Best leads the way with 11 in 16.
In the Premier League, United have scored 30 goals at home, the division’s highest. Away from home, West Ham have scored just 5 times, the league’s lowest.
Despite scoring two headed goals in the first match, away from home, West Ham have scored only 1 goal from a set-piece this season.
Of the last 25 FA Cup round draws, United have been drawn against Premier League opposition on 20 occasions
West Ham haven’t scored more than 1 goal at Old Trafford since a Frank McAvennie double helped them to a 3-2 win – way back on 25th August, 1986.
West Ham’s midfield has chipped in with 13 league goals this season – their strikers have 6. United’s midfielders have hit the back of the net 9 times – the defence has scored 11!
Of the current United squad, only Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher have tasted FA Cup success.
Scored prediction: United 2-0 West Ham
Online streaming links for Manchester United vs West Ham are here
