Manchester United vs West Ham preview

Game : Manchester United vs West Ham

Venue : Old Trafford, Manchester.

After dropping points against Everton, Manchester United will be keen to get back to winning ways when they host Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham in a midweek Premiership fixture. The Hammers have lost four of their last five games, and face a real test at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

United played well against Everton, and could easily have been three or four goals ahead by half time. Marouane Felliani eventually cancelled out Darren Fletcher’s opener and earned the Toffees a point. Carlos Tevez is expected to start after being on the bench for the last few games, and that means Dimitar Berbatov will have to make way unless Ferguson chooses to go with a wild, unlikely, three striker strategy. Michael Carrick, who was injured against Newcastle, is in line for an early return against his former club. Carrick’s last United goal also came against the Hammers, in the 4-1 win in May. Wes Brown may make way for Rafael or Gary Neville at right back, but the rest of the defence is unlikely to be tinkered with. Ryan Giggs is expected to start ahead of Anderson and Park, with Ronaldo on the right wing.

West Ham managed to hold Arsenal for seventy five minutes at Upton Park, but the introduction of Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor changed the game. Julien Faubert first put the ball into his own net, and as the Hammers strove forward for an equaliser, Adebayor scored to put the game beyond their reach. West Ham played a 4-3-3 against Arsenal, with Carlton Cole playing as main striker, and Craig Bellamy and David Di Michele playing off him. That will be disturbed as Cole got himself sent off against Arsenal. Dean Ashton, Kieron Dyer, Jonathan Spector and Danny Gabbidon continue to remain on the sidelines, with Mark Noble also joining them recently. The Hammers have only won once away this season, when they beat Fulham at Loftus Road. West Ham are only three points behind United in the table, but United have an extra game in hand.

The odds that most bookies offer seem to suggest that the Hammers will get a real hammering. Paddy Power has them at 12/1, with United quoted at a very enticing 2/9. Blue Square have West Ham at 11/1, with United again quoted at 2/9. United to win this 3-1, with Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez and Bellamy on the scoresheet.