West Ham v Birmingham preview

Zola looks to focus on results as Birmingham make rare change

Last updated: 10th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

West Ham v Birmingham preview

Benitez: Injured

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Skysports.com prediction: 1-1

SKY BET odds: West Ham 5/4 Draw 9/4 Birmingham 9/4

One to Watch: Mido

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Gianfranco Zola will be hoping the talking can be done on the pitch as West Ham United face a Birmingham City side set to make a rare change.

The build-up to the Hammers' game on Wednesday has been overshadowed by a difference of opinion between Zola and new co-owner David Sullivan.

Former Birmingham owner Sullivan expressed his belief that there will need to be sweeping wage cuts at the club in the summer, but Zola was unhappy with the timing of the comments.

Sullivan has subsequently come out to offer his support to Zola and insists the Italian will not be sacked if West Ham lose to Birmingham.

The Hammers head into the game on the back of a luckless 2-1 defeat at Burnley at the weekend which ensured Zola's side have won just once in 10 Premier League games.

That run has left West Ham in the bottom three, while Birmingham, in stark contrast, are just three points away from reaching the magical 40-point mark.

Having been tipped to struggle this season, Birmingham have surprised most pundits and have gone from strength to strength since Carson Yeung replaced Sullivan and David Gold as the club's owner.

Team news

Zola may be pressed into making at least one change from the team which lost at Burnley after Benni McCarthy was replaced at half-time with a knee problem.

Fellow new signing Mido came on for McCarthy at Turf Moor and is pushing to start, along with another January recruit, Ilan, who scored the Hammers' consolation.

Alessandro Diamanti is also in contention after returning to training following a knee injury, but Guillermo Franco is not yet ready to return from a thigh complaint.

Kieron Dyer is in full training, but Danny Gabbidon has a hamstring injury, and Luis Boa Morte, Calum Davenport and Zavon Hines are long-term absentees.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish will be forced into changing his starting line-up for the first time in 13 Premier League fixtures.

Christian Benitez suffered an ankle injury in the 2-1 win over Wolves on Sunday and he has been ruled out of the trip to the capital.

Kevin Phillips replaced Benitez against Wolves and had a decisive impact by scoring both goals as Blues came from behind to claim the points.

However, McLeish is wary about playing Phillips from the start, believing him to be better as an impact player this season, so James McFadden could be pushed further upfield to support Cameron Jerome.

McLeish is weighing up changes to his team to freshen things up, with Keith Fahey, and new signings Michel and Craig Gardner, pushing to start.

Possible starting XIs

West Ham: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Spector, Behrami, Noble, Parker, Collison, Cole, Mido.

Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Bowyer, Ferguson, Fahey, McFadden, Jerome.

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