12:00PM BST 22 Sep 2012
Saturday, September 22
Upton Park
Kick-off: 15.00 BST.
TV: Highlights BBC1 Match Of The Day.
West Ham United (Possible, 4-3-3): Jaaskelainen; O’Brien, Collins,
Reid, Demel; Nolan, Diame, Noble; Taylor, Cole, Vaz Te.
Out: Collison (knee), Cole (hamstring).
Sunderland (Possible, 4-4-1-1): Mignolet; Gardner, O’Shea, Bramble,
Rose; Larsson, Cattermole, Colback, McClean; Sessegnon; Fletcher.
Out: Bardsley (ankle), Brown (knee), Cuéllar (hamstring).
Test: Johnson (thigh).
Referee: Lee Mason. Matches: 3, R0 Y8.
Team News
West Ham's on-loan striker Andy Carroll has returned to light training after
a hamstring injury, but will not be in contention for Saturday's Premier
League clash against Sunderland.
Carlton Cole and Mali forward Modibo Maiga will competiting to lead the attack for the Hammers, who have no fresh injury concerns.
Midfielder Matt Jarvis, signed from Wolves, could make his home debut after a substitute appearance in last week's goalless draw at Norwich, but Jack Collison remains sidelined.
Sunderland, meanwhile, are likely to be without England winger Adam Johnson as he struggles to shake off a thigh injury.
The 25 year-old sat out England's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine with the problem and was also absent for last Saturday's 1-1 draw against Liverpool.
Defender Carlos Cuéllar is out while Phil Bardsley and Wes Brown are making good progress but are still short of match fitness.
Match Notes
West Ham will put their 100 per cent home record on the line when they host
draw specialists Sunderland.
The Black Cats are searching for a first victory of the season, having started with three successive stalemates, while their opponents have won both their opening games at Upton Park without conceding.
But with the hosts still deprived of the services of Andy Carroll, Martin O’Neill’s side will feel confident of adding another point to their tally.
Betting: Home 5-4, Away 21-10, Draw 21-10.
Stat of the game: Sunderland have gone 11 games without a league win, the worse current run of any team in the Premier League.
Gordon Simpson’s prediction: West Ham 1 Sunderland 1.
