West Ham host Newcastle United this Saturday afternoon at Upton Park, in what manager Avram Grant is likely to see as an opportunity to get off the bottom off the table where his squad currently reside.
If you considered all competition, you would see that the Magpies have a great record on the road, in the ongoing season. Their only away losses have come against Manchester City and Manchester United.
The Hammers had a horrendous start to the premiership, with four losses on the trot. That said, West Ham's last loss came five matches ago, and they will look to extend that unbeaten streak against the Magpies, who have in contrast just garnered the solitary point from their last three games. Unlike west Ham, Newcastle began the league season well getting a brilliant win against Villa in only their second match. But thereafter their campaign has fallen apart.
But for Fabricio Colloccini's equaliser in injury time, Newcastle would not have salvaged the single point they did in their last game against Wigan. Newcastle returned to the Premiership this season, and the last game between the two sides was during the Magpies' relegation year in 2009. The Upton Park game that year went to the Hammers, 3-1, while the Magpies' home game ended in a 2-2 draw.
Head to head however, Newcastle have a 44-37 advantage over Avram Grant's men, though on current form, they would be hard pressed to preserve that record. In Andy Carroll, the Magpies have one of the top scorers of the season, and they will look him to provide the impetus.
The Hammers have few injury worries with the list being restricted to Hitzlsperger with a thigh injury and Collison and Hines with knee problems.
Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury in his side's game against Wigan in match-week eight, is set to return for the Upton Park game. Chris Hughton also hopes to welcome Danny Simpson back after a long hiatus owing to an ankle injury.
Sol Campbell's thigh and Steven Taylor's shoulder will continue to keep the respective players out of the Saturday game, though Taylor could get back to training on Monday. Dan Gosling, Ben Arfa, Steve Harper and Leaon Best continue to figure on the injury list for the Magpies.
The probable eleven for West Ham should be: Green, Da Costa, Jacobsen, Gabbidon, Upson, Parker, Dyer, Boa Morte, Noble, Piquionne, Obinna.
The following men are likely to comprise the starting eleven for Newcastle: Krul, Coloccini, Perch, Enrique, Williamson, Tiote, Nolan, Guttierez, Barton, Carroll, Lovenkrands.
