Hammers Come Knocking

The Royals face relegation haunted West Ham looking down on their east London opponents from a comfortable berth in the top half of the table, despite a six-match winless run in which only two points have been banked from the last possible 18. One of those points was against Chelsea on Boxing day, and on Saturday they were only the odd goal in five worse off to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Royals are hoping to stave off a third successive home defeat, having lost the last two Premiership games at the Madejski against Blackburn and Everton. Steve Coppell’s side have already accounted for Middlesbrough, Manchester City, Tottenham, Charlton and Bolton on home turf in their first ever season at this level.

Seol Ki-Hyeon’s second minute strike decided the issue when these clubs met at Upton Park in October. Now Reading have an opportunity to complete a first ever League ‘double’ over the Hammers.

Sam Sodje is suspended after his red card at Old Trafford while skipper Graeme Murty is a doubt with a groin injury.

Ironically, Sodje could have replaced Murty if he had not been suspended, and his absence means that either Brynjar Gunnarsson or Andre Bikey will fill the right back berth if Murty doesn’t make it.

After changing from his usual tactical approach for the away games at Chelsea and Manchester United, Steve Coppell is likely to revert to his preferred 4-4-2 formation.

That would mean a place on the left wing for either Stephen Hunt or Seol Ki-Hyeon, with Leroy Lita and Kevin Doyle set to be paired up front.

New West Ham manager Alan Curbishley was made well aware that his new club have a real fight for survival on their hands when they suffered a second defeat in his fourth game in charge. Saturday’s seventh loss in 10 League outings (0-1, home to Manchester City) leaves them in the relegation zone, three points short of safety. If West Ham lose, and then Charlton beat Arsenal on Tuesday, Alan Pardew’s side would leapfrog the Hammers and send them second bottom. One wonders what new chairman Eggert Magnusson would be thinking if scenario happens, given he sacked Pardew two weeks ago.

The Hammers have not won an away League game this season, and have not scored in 798 minutes (13 hours 18 minutes) of Premiership football on the road since Bobby Zamora’s 12th minute effort against Liverpool on 26 August. They’ve only scored twice and gained two points away from Upton Park in this campaign, courtesy of a 1-1 draw at Watford in their first away fixture and a no score draw at Fulham on their most recent – the Saturday before Christmas.

The Hammers have met Reading five times in League competitions and are trailing by two wins to three. They’re yet to record a maximum on Royals’ turf.

Curbishley will be pleased to welcome back Nigel Reo-Coker and Paul Konchesky after the pair missed Saturday’s defeat to Manchester City through suspension.

The Hammers may also have defender George McCartney available after he missed City game through illness.

Danny Gabbidon is a major doubt after limping off towards the end of Saturday’s game, which could mean that Christian Dailly reverts to a central defensive position.

Left winger Matthew Etherington is another doubt through illness, having been substituted after an hour on Saturday.

In attack, Bobby Zamora could return from a toe injury, with Teddy Sheringham, Carlos Tevez, Marlon Harewood and Carlton Cole all vying to start.

Javier Mascherano and Dean Ashton are unavailable through injury, while Shaun Newton has only recently completed a drugs ban and is unlikely to feature.

Reading Team News:

Reading (from): Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Little, Gunnarsson, Sidwell, Harper, Doyle, Lita, Hunt, Bikey, Seol, Long, De La Cruz, Federici, Oster.

Player to watch: Leroy Lita

Lita’s been in fine form since returning to the Reading starting line-up. The striker has scored in each of his last two games – against the top two in the country – and will be looking to continue his scoring run.

West Ham United Team News:

West Ham (from): Green, Dailly, Spector, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Konchesky, Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Mullins, Bowyer, Etherington, Tevez, Sheringham, Harewood, Zamora, Carroll, Mears, Cole, Noble.

Player to watch: Carlos Tevez

The Argentinian has not had the greatest of starts to his career in the Premiership, but don’t be fooled into thinking Tevez is out of his depth. On his day he can be a match winner, and will be looking to break his Hammers duck against the Royals.

Match Facts & Stats

READING

9th – 27 points

Highest achievable: 9th

Lowest could fall: 14th

WEST HAM UNITED

18th – 18 points

Highest achievable: 17th

Lowest could fall: 19th

Ref Watch:

Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Mason is relatively inexperienced in the top flight, with just four Premiership games coming under his command this season – most recently Sheffield United’s dramatic win over Arsenal on Saturday.

One of his other games this season was Reading’s opening away fixture, and he was at the centre of controversy when Ibrahima Sonko was sent off in a 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa.

Match Prediction:

Ever since I’ve started to predict us winning, we’ve failed to do so. So this time I’ll plump for a draw but will be secretly hoping for our first win since beating Bolton at the Madejski Stadium last month.