The Match
West Ham will have taken confidence from their midweek result against Chelsea, despite being on the wrong side of the most one-sided 0-0 draw ever. Shipping over 35 shots and having around 30% possession is rather alarming, but Jose Mourinho's comments that it was "football from another century" are wide of the mark - at the end of the day they got a point which is what they set out to get. They'll be under pressure from their home fans against the Swans though, and Allardyce will know it'd be viewed as unacceptable to set his team out similarly to how they operated at Stamford Bridge.
Swansea...well, we won! Fulham were atrocious mind you, but you can only play what's in front of you and the three points was both thoroughly deserved and long overdue. West Ham are sure to provide a much, much sterner and more physical test (despite anything Steve Sidwell & Scott Parker might claim) and with Andy Carroll back to "fitness" they've once again got a lump up front to launch long balls towards. Chico & Ash will have to watch him very closely because despite often looking like a donkey he has a knack of getting one over us.
Prior Form (Most recent at top)
Team News
Provided by resident fitness guru Ben Dinnery - make sure to follow him on Twitter for the latest injury news and views
Swansea travel to West Ham United tomorrow and the end to an extremely difficult injury period is almost at an end with Michael Laudrup confirming his squad is approaching full strength. The midweek victory over Fulham not only provided a much needed three points for The Jacks but saw the return of Nathan Dyer (ankle), Jonathan de Guzman (calf), Angel Rangel (calf) and Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) helping to ease the pressure on the Danish manager. Of those remaining Canas (ankle) has returned to training and could potentially make tomorrows’ squad, although the Spanish midfielder is only likely to make the bench after three weeks out. Michu is targeting a return in the derby against Cardiff City, but a 15-20 minute cameo is the best the Swans can hope for. Michel Vorm's recovery has been slow since his knee operation with the Dutch goal-keeper falling behind schedule, he had hoped for a return in the FA Cup but still looks to be at least a week away. The one slight concern I would have is that Swansea were linked with a move for Stoke City stopper Jack Butland suggesting there maybe problems with regards his long-term fitness.
West Ham United are another side that until very recently were struggling with a number of injuries, prompting manager Sam Allardyce to announce "We're finally looking good on the injury front" however that was before the draw at Chelsea. Joey O’Brien (dislocated shoulder) is now ruled out for around three months while midfielder Mohamed Diame having just returned from a knee injury faces a late fitness test after crashing into advertising hoardings. The Senegalese international was withdrawn during the first half at Stamford Bridge. Winston Reid and Ricardo Vaz Te are “very very close” to a return but given the length of time each player has spent out injured a place amongst the substitutes would be my guess. Striker Andy Carroll is approaching full-fitness after making his first Premier League start of the season on Wednesday while captain Kevin Nolan is back from suspension; defender Guy Demel has recovered from concussion. Joe Cole remains in the treatment room.
Completely guessed lineups
Statistics & Trivia
- West Ham United and Swansea City have met each other on 56 occasions with the Hammers prevailing 26 times, Swansea triumphant on 17 occasions and 13 matches ending as draws.
- Swansea have lost just once in ten games against teams in the bottom half.
- In West Ham's last nine Barclays Premier League games at the Boleyn Ground, they have conceded exactly three goals (six times) or kept a clean sheet (three times).
- Swansea have won none of their last five Barclays Premier League away games (L3 D2), scoring just two goals in that run.
- Sam Allardyce's side have won just one of their last 10 Premier League home games (W1 D3 L6).
- The away side has failed to score in the last four meetings in all competitions between Swansea and West Ham.
- West Ham have won eight and lost none of the last 10 times they have hosted Swansea in all competitions.
- West Ham have kept 10 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, only Arsenal have as many.
- The Hammers have picked up only nine points at home this season, fewer than any other side in the Premier League.
- Andy Carroll is yet to record a shot on target in the Premier League this season in three appearances.
- Wilfried Bony has scored six goals in his last six competitive appearances for Swansea City. .
Straight from the horse's mouth
Michael Laudrup knows what he's up against, and has no problem with the way West Ham go about things:
“Every game is different, you have to play the way you think is best for your team in each particular game.
“West Ham did that, they were very brave. Yes, they defended inside their own box a lot but they got a point at Chelsea, where under Mourinho they have not lost in I don’t know how long.
“We tried a different way up there and we lost so you could say West Ham did better than us.
“They could have lost the game, but they didn’t. Whenever you get a result, you are right. So they did well.”
“It will be a tough game, not because of what they did at Chelsea but they are very strong physically, and we are not so much,” said the Dane.
“The players already know what to expect from Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan, James Tomkins, James Collins and company so it will be a tough afternoon for us.”
http://www.london24.com/sport/west-ham/swansea_boss_braced_for_physical_test_at_west_ham_1_3262417Sam Allardyce feels Andy Carroll will have a positive effect on West Ham:
"You've got to try to see the light at the end of the tunnel and stay positive. The re-introduction of Andy Carroll should bring a bit more optimism to everybody at West Ham.
"Players are coming back, new players have come in and we obviously have some big games coming up. We have to try to go on a bit of a run, an undefeated run at first. I know everybody's desperate to win, but first and foremost it's about not losing.
"Building the confidence up, not losing in the hope that we start producing more goals which will give us more victories.
"Scoring goals has been our Achilles heel this season and on too many occasions we haven't converted opportunities into goals."
http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Sam-Allardyce-aims-build-West-Ham-confidence/story-20536320-detail/story.html#ixzz2s0o4tlfc
Analysis
Another big game then. After winning the first of four games in our mini-series against teams around us in the league, the Swans will be keen to build some momentum after a poor run of form dating back to last season, which hasn't been aided by the way the fixture list has worked out. They won't have an easy afternoon of it though, as West Ham are sure to be rallied by their gritty performance at Stamford Bridge last time out. If Chelsea couldn't score after having thirty odd shots, what chance have the Swans got, right?
There's no way that West Ham wills set out their stall in a similar fashion to how they did against Jose Mourinho's side though, as home fans wouldn't accept that given the club's similar league standing. This is a game West Ham will want to be winning, and it's the need for them to push up the field which could give the Swans chances. If we can draw the sting out of the home team early on and retain possession as per usual, I'm confident of a result.
I haven't even mentioned Wilfried Bony yet. After giving better defenders than James Tomkins and James Collins the runaround in recent weeks, I'm confident he's going to give the home centre-backs a tough time of it, and fancy him to get on the scoresheet. His opposite number? I don't particularly rate Carroll, but on his day he's a menace and he does seem to have a habit of turning it on against the Swans. No doubt Ash is relishing squaring up to him. He loves that kind of stuff.
Out wide West Ham have two overpriced English wingers, but despite their inflated price tags we'll have to watch their supply to Carroll. Ben Davies in particular has been caught out of position on a number of occasions this season and if he gives either of the wingers the opportunity to put the ball into a dangerous area it could well cost us.
Overall, I'm quite confident and fancy a 2-1 win. Bony to nab a brace, with Carroll getting a consolation off his arse.