please log in to view this image V please log in to view this image Tuesday 18th October 2011 - 7.45pm @ St Marys Stadium, Southampton please log in to view this image Kits Southampton please log in to view this image West Ham United please log in to view this image Focus on the opposition Manager: Sam Allardyce Top Scorer: Carlton Cole (4) Stadium: The Boleyn Ground (Upton Park) - Capacity: 35,303 Current Position: 2nd (Championship) Club Legend: Booby Moore (Player - 1958-1974) Player/manager with Saints connection: Iain Dowie (Southampton: 122 apps - 1991-1995, West Ham United: 81 apps - 1991 and 1995-1998) Last 3 results: West Ham United 4 - 0 Blackpool Crystal Palace 2 - 2 West Ham United West Ham United 0 - 1 Ipswich Town Favourites for promotion, West Ham United have had a decent start to the 2011/12 campaign, sitting 2nd in the Championship, just 2 points behind leaders Southampton. They have won 6 games out of 11 and like Saints have lost just 2. To add to that they are certainly not shy in front of goal, having already scored 22 (just 4 less than Saints), and registering some big scores along the way, knocking 4 past Watford, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth and Blackpool respectfully. Manager, Sam Allardyce (who has been in the job since the summer), has managed to essemble a strong squad of players, many of whom already have Premiership calibre. Players such as John Carew, Carlton Cole, Kevin Nolan and Matthew Taylor have plenty of top flight experience and you will be hard pushed to find better in the Championship. The visit of The Hammers will certainly be a tough test for Nigel Adkins men, but with an expected packed out St Marys and decent form of their own, The Saints will certainly fancy their chances. Recent History This is the first time the two sides have met since 5th April 2003, as the respected relegations and promotions of both clubs have kept them apart in the leagues up until now. That day, both sides were in the Premier League and The Saints, managed by Gordan Strachan, were aiming for a UEFA Cup place in the league whilst preparing themselves for an FA Cup semi-final showdown against Watford. 1-1 was the final result at St Marys, with goals from Jermaine Defoe for West Ham and James Beattie for Southampton. The last time Southampton beat West Ham was earlier in the same season, on 2nd December 2002. This was the corresponding league fixture at Upton Park. It was a real smash and grab victory for The Saints, in front of the Sky cameras. An injury time winner from James Beattie was enough to take all 3 points in a 1-0 victory. Remarkably, Saints managed to achieve this result despite arriving just 30 minutes before kick-off due to traffic delays! The last time The Saints beat The Hammers at St Marys was on 30th January 2002. 2-0 was the final score with goals from Kevin Davies and Fabrice Fernandes. Interestingly, it was nearly 59 years ago the last time Southampton and West Ham played in the second tier of English football, on the 20th December 1952 to be exact. Both sides were in the old Division 2 and West Ham took all 3 points at The Dell with a 2-1 win. In the last 10 meetings between the sides, The Hammers have won 5, The Saints have won 4 and there has been just a single draw. Last 5 league matches Southampton - W D L W D West Ham United - D W L D W (Both teams have taken 8 points from a possible 15)
Fact of the season so far for me that. I can't believe that we haven't played them since April 2003. Without sitting down and really thinking about it, I'd have never said it was that long. I'm guessing either Roeder or Brooking were in charge (I think it was sometime towards the end of that season that Roeder unfortunately fell ill). Saints 1 West Ham 2. Might nick a 2-2 draw if Lallana is fit.
My 1st game this season so excited. This is gonna be tough. Am I right in thinking that West Ham have not lost away from home? Really hope that Lallana plays. Any news on that? Saying that, we still have enough quality to put on a good performance. I thought West Ham were second too. Saints 2 - West Ham 1
I wouldn't exactly call it a lack of confidence in us (which is what I would have called it when I thought we'd fail to beat Leeds for example). I just think there are times where you have you hold your hands up and say the opposition are better - and West Ham are comfortably the best team in the league. I think we'll give them a real game, and like I say with Lallana in there we might just nick a point. But most likely, West Ham's quality I think will shine through.
Looked at West Ham's results so far...no evidence that they are better than us. Going for Saints win as we are at home.
You are spot on but it was just before Roeder left. We drew 1-1, Beattie and Jermain Defoe. We got to the Cup Final and they went down.
I am going to this one and I am excited to see how we fare against West Ham. With all the hype and expectation maybe this will be a 0-0!!
Seems that Big Sam isn't quite sure on how we play. He seemed to suggest on Goals On Sunday a minute ago that we play three in the middle of midfield, with Lambert up front alone. News to me that Connolly is a central midfielder.
I'm sorry, I agree with st_brendy, I think for the first time in the Championship we will be out of our depth and we'll be exposed at the back. 1-3 for me although I will be delighted to be wrong (for the first time ever!)
Were going to win this!!!! 3-1 saints to cement our place at the top and continue to show off our exceptional talents!
The buggers will nick a point/win with a dodgy decision because the referee will side with them. Without Lallana: please log in to view this image With him: In for Spiderman and back to 4-4-2.
On Goals on Sunday this morning one of the guests was Sam Allardyce, and he was talking about their season so far and the conversation stumbled onto tactics, and he said he always believes it is best to play 2 up front. But talking about Southampton he said this was not the case, here are some quotes: "You always play two up top, it gives us the best chance to win, but it doesn't against Southampton." "Their strength lies in midfield and their service to Lambert so if we drop a forward & put one more in midfield we can benefit." "If you can break down Southampton's midfield and stop them passing the ball around you can defeat them, but it won't be easy for us on Tuesday." Seems like Hammers might be coming in a 4-5-1 in that case, would you match them or stick to 4-4-2? Personally I would bring Chaplow in for Connolly and match up to them. Just thought it might be of interest to anyone who didn't see the show. DTLW
They've played 4-5-1 most away games this season. Gonna be a lot of hoofing up to Carew I suspect. I don't think we should go 4-5-1, not at all. Maybe stick Guly up front and drop him back to AM occasionally but we shouldn't change the way we play for them - and we should always be positive at home. Mind games early on from Big Sam. Nigel will give nothing away. Lambert needs somebody playing off him and Connolly, after his extended break, did well on Saturday. His class could be the difference. The real selection issue will be who to play in CM alongside Cork - Schneiderlin or Hammond? The more technical ball player, like their midfielders are, or the more ruthless tough type to get stuck into Nolan and restrict him bombing forward? Gonna be a fascinating team sheet come Tuesday.
I think he's wrong, so I hope he goes with that. I reckon the best way to beat Saints is to open the game right up and hope to put away more chances than we do. He can try and break down our supply to Lambert, but we can score goals from all over the pitch. We'll find it more difficult to score, but as usual we'll break them down eventually. If he wants a result, he should attack us, as West Ham are possibly more capable of converting their chances than we are. It would make for a more exciting game as well, but that's not the Allardyce way. I'm saying 1-0 win for us if he plays 4-5-1. High-scoring draw if he plays 4-4-2.
