Posts Tagged ‘Marlon King’

The Hammers will entertain Middlesbrough at Upton Park in the FA Cup Fifth Round challenge in this all Premiership cup tie.

Revived West Ham are enjoying a great spell under Zola despite last weekends result and we currently sit perched eighth, just 11 points from fifth place Arsenal and potential European tournament qualification for next season.

Middlesbrough however really need to get their game going if they want to survive the Premiership this season. Quagmired at the very bottom of the table with just 22 points which they share with West Brom Albion, but with a superior goal difference, Middlesbrough are two points from safety, where currently Stoke City is at 17th place.

Boro fans need not be forlorn, as there is a long way to go until May but a few decent results would come in quite handy.

West Ham will give late fitness tests for Valon Behrami and James Tomkins who are both suffering hamstring injuries which also kept them away from midweek international matches. Czech midfielder Radoslav Kovac could make his debut and Kieron Dyer has been having tests on a muscle injury.

Middlesbrough have selection complications of their own, as they will be without Marlon King. Marvin Emnes or Tuncay are most likely going to replace him at Upton Park. Good news for Boro is that David Wheater is set to return for Chris Riggott who is out with medial ligament injury in a shuffled, makeshift defence which the Hammers will no doubt set to exploit. .

Before the match, West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has told the Hammers website:

“My job here is not finished and I always focus on the short term. I want to improve this team and to give something more. I have not given enough. I do not like planning long-term, and always like to stick to the present. I do not know what the future holds. If you asked me seven months ago if I would be a manager I would have said no.”

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate was quoted saying by the BBC:

“In recent years the cup games have helped build a platform to improve form in the league and start climbing the table. You want to win something as a player and as a club. If we get past this one, we are only a couple of games away from a trip to Wembley and that always gives a lift to a club”.

COYI Prediction West Ham United 2-1 Boro

Live Links for the match HERE