21-02-2011 21:00 West Ham Utd. - Burnley

Howe Confident Are Burnley?

Burnley are enjoying their football at the moment, having won four out of their last five games, and Howe is confident that his squad will be a match for the Hammers – who are currently helping to prop up the Premier League in 19th place.

Howe said: “West Ham [is] a game we are looking to do well in. There is a good team spirit and a desire there to achieve something this season. We are building momentum, we are in a good run of form and we want that to continue."

Granted, The Hammers Are In Poor Form, But...

United have been less prolific with their form of late, having won only two of their last five fixtures, and Hammers fans won’t be happy to hear that their club have failed to beat Burnley in all competitions whenever the two sides have met since 1973, or that they have failed to progress beyond the fifth round in the FA Cup since reaching the final in 2006. However, they will be buoyed by the fact that the Clarets have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 13 FA Cup ties.

Looking back at the previous meetings between the two sides, each has won 30 games apiece – and come Monday evening when they kick off both will be looking to tip the statistical scales in favour of themselves.

TEAM NEWS

West Ham

Thomas Hitzlsperger is set to finally make his debut for the Hammers after joining on a free transfer from Lazio in June of last year. The midfielder has been out since the summer with a thigh injury he sustained in Germany’s international friendly against Denmark, mere days before the start of the Premier League season.

The midfielder recently played 70 minutes of a reserve game against Chelsea, who saw their own FA Cup campaign come to an end on Saturday. West Ham manager Avram Grant has revealed that Hitzlsperger will definitely play a part in Monday’s tie, telling The Guardian: “I don’t know how long, but he will play.”

Matthew Upson (Achilles) is a doubt for the fifth round clash, as is fellow defender James Tomkins (calf).

Robbie Keane (calf) and Peter Kurucz (knee) are long-term injuries and won’t be making an appearance for the Hammers.

Possible starting XI: Green; Jacobsen, Reid, Da Costa, Ilunga; Sears, Hitzlsperger, Noble, Barrera; Obinna, Piquionne.

Burnley

New Burnley manager Eddie Howe is in the enviable position of having almost free reign over who he picks for Monday’s FA Cup tie, with no restrictions from injury or suspension hindering his ability to pick his starting XI.

Just two players will be unavailable for the clash due to being cup-tied: striker Charlie Austin and midfielder Marvin Bartley.

Possible starting XI: Grant; Mears, Duff, Carlisle, Fox; Marney, Cork, Elliott; Rodriguez, Thompson, Eagles.

Prediction

 West Ham 1-2 Burnley 

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20-02-2011 La Liga Round 24 Preview

Osasuna - Espanyol

A new era is underway at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra; the departure of Jose Antonio Camacho will have surprised few, with their winless away record now extending to a year, and relegation a real concern.

Former Valladolid Jose Luis Mendilibar has taken the reins, and faces a tough start against an Espanyol side desperate for points at the opposite end of the table.

The Blanc I Blau will feel they squandered a significant opportunity to topple ten-man Real Madrid last weekend, and their form is beginning to waver slightly, falling off the pace of the top four positions that they looked destined to challenge for.

Striker Pablo Osvaldo’s continued absence is stunting their attacking threat, and coach Mauricio Pochettino needs his other forwards such as Luis Garcia, Sergio Garcia and Alvaro Vazquez to fire the goals to keep them into contention.

Team News in brief:

Osasuna: Javad Nekounam and Carlos Aranda were absent from training on Friday and are doubtful, but winter signing Alvaro Cejudo could make his debut.

Espanyol: Victor Alvarez is out for a fortnight after suffering a blow to the leg in training, while Jesus Datolo could miss out with a muscle problem.

Almeria - Deportivo

Almeria are one of a host of sides in the midst of one of the most closely-contested relegation scraps in recent seasons, and will be looking to recover from last week’s damaging 1-0 reverse against Levante.

That result left the Andalucians second bottom and three points from safety; coach Jose Luis Oltra knows that they must starting picking up victories, particularly at home, in order to survive. Two victories and six draws from eleven matches hasn’t been of a sufficient standard, and fixtures such as this, against a Deportivo team who themselves have only won twice on the road, become absolute must-win contests.

Indeed the Galicians are by no means clear of the bottom three, but clinched an impressive 1-0 victory over Villarreal at the Riazor last weekend to open some daylight between them and Sunday’s opponents. That result effectively kept coach Miguel Angel Lotina, who have came under increasing pressure, in the position for another week, and he will be confident that his team can build on the momentum gained from last week’s win.

Team News in brief:

Almeria: Juanma Ortiz is injured, while Michel is suspended.

Deportivo: Mexican winger Andres Guardado is still short of fitness after being out since October, but should be ready to face Real Madrid next weekend.

Villarreal - Malaga

The Yellow Submarines are currently experiencing their first crisis of what has been an almost flawless season. Two consecutive league defeats to Levante and then against Deportivo, in what was their poorest performance of the campaign, has cast doubt over their capacity to last the pace in the top four.

Teams such as Athletic Bilbao are waiting to pounce should their sub-standard displays continue, and so it is imperative that they are commanding against bottom side Malaga, who are suffering from a whole host of problems.

Bottom of the table and five points from safety, coach Manuel Pellegrini, despite all of his experience, has been unable to get it right so far, and they remain without a win in 2011. Coupled with innumerable injury concerns to key players including Julio Baptista and Duda, it is a worrying time for the Chilean.

Team News in brief:

Villarreal: Full back Angel is out for the entire season with a cruciate injury, Rossi has been struggling with a virus but should be fit enough to start.

Malaga: Manuel Pellegrini is contending with a whole host of injuries including Jesus Gamez, Helder Rosario, Kris Stadsgaards, Sergio Asenjo and Duda. Julio Baptista needs knee surgery is out for six weeks.

Getafe - Racing

The Azulones squandered the chance to stake a real claim for European football next season when they squandered a two-goal lead at Malaga last weekend, but will look to bounce back against Racing at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Michel's side looked to be in control before two late strikes from the Boquerones turned the match around, and is symptomatic of the inconsistencies suffered by the capital club this season.

Racing on the other hand enjoyed a stunning win over Sevilla last weekend, marking a stunning comeback for coach Marcelino, and he will look to maintain the impetus into this match. Relegation remains a threat, however, and every point in crucial heading into the closing weeks of the season.

Team News in brief:

Getafe: Javier Arizmendi could return for the match, but definitely out are Manu del Moral (knee) and Oscar Ustari (jaw) missing for three and six weeks respectively.

Racing: Markus Rosenberg missed last weekend's win but could return for this match, while Cristian's red card agaisnt Los Nervionenses means he is suspended.

Sevilla - Hercules

Sevilla entertain Hercules at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on Sunday night, with the home side looking to recover from the last gasp defensive error against Porto which cost them the leg the Europa League tie on Thursday. Despite performing well, it was another blow in what has already been a below-par season. However, they will hope that this is the game to get their season back on track, given the visitors' woeful record on the road.

Indeed, Esteban Vigo's men will need to improve on their displays away from the José Rico Pérez, having not found the net in their last seven outings.

The last encounter of the two sides in La Liga was at the end of September, with Hercules 2-0 winners at the Jose Rico Perez after a brace from then new signing David Trezeguet. Los Nervionenses will be out for revenge in the return affair.

Team News in brief:

Sevilla: Sevilla have no major concerns for the match.

Hercules: Royston Drenthe is out for three weeks with a hamstring injury, while striker Nelson Valdez faces a race to make the match due to a similar injury.

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