West Ham v Reading preview

West Ham v Reading live on Sky Sports 1 on Boxing Day from 12.30pm

Last updated: 24th December 2007

Steve Coppell

Coppell: Revenge mission

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: 1-1

SKY BET odds: West Ham 5/6, Draw 9/4, Reading 11/4

One to Watch: Dean Ashton

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Reading travel to Upton Park to face West Ham on Boxing Day hoping to banish the memory of their 3-0 defeat to the Hammers in September.

West Ham cruised to victory over Reading earlier in the season as the dreaded 'second season syndrome' began to rear its head at the Madejski Stadium.

However, the Royals have gone on a recent run of four games without defeat in the Premier League and manager Steve Coppell will be in no mood to relinquish that record.

West Ham remain inconsistent this season, but they came from a goal down to record an away win against Middlesbrough on Saturday and the Upton Park faithful will hope to take that hardiness into the meeting with the Royals.

Dependable

Brynjar Gunnarsson completed 90 minutes in Reading's controversial 2-1 victory over Sunderland at the weekend, despite a badly gashed knee, and Coppell is expected to stick with the dependable Icelandic international.

Coppell is still without wingers John Oster (ankle) and Glen Little (heel) who remain on the long-term absentee list, but Reading do not have any new injury concerns as the crunch festive period arrives.

West Ham striker Carlton Cole is hopeful he can break up the productive strike partnership of Dean Ashton and Henri Camara as he returns from suspension.

Cole was forced to sit out the victory at the Riverside after picking up his fifth booking of the season but he is now available again.

Injury woes

That is likely to leave Camara as the most vulnerable as Dean Ashton, who hit a superb equaliser against Boro, appears to be regaining his form after the start of his season was disrupted by injury.

Boss Alan Curbishley will hope James Collins (groin) and Luis Boa Morte (thigh) are back in contention after missing the success against Boro.

However, Calum Davenport, Matthew Etherington (both groin), Craig Bellamy (stomach strain), Anton Ferdinand (hamstring) will be missing.

Lee Bowyer (groin), Bobby Zamora (knee), Kieron Dyer (broken leg) and Julien Faubert (Achilles) are also unavailable as West Ham's injury woes continue.