Team news, manager quotes and match facts ahead of the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United at The Hawthorns.
Opta – Fri, Dec 14, 2012 09:55 GMT- Eurosport - West Bromwich Albion's Zoltan Gera (right) celebrates scoring his sides first goal of the game against Sunderland
TEAM NEWS
West Bromwich Albion's Claudio Yacob, Ben Foster and Liam Ridgewell are set for a return to training, but are unlikely to play in Sunday's clash. Goalkeeper Foster has missed the last six matches after having groin surgery, midfielder Yacob sat out Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Arsenal with a hamstring injury and Ridgewell limped off with an ankle injury against the Gunners. Manager Steve Clarke would not name his other concerns as Albion bid to end a run of three successive defeats.
West Ham's injury worries have deepened ahead of their Premier League trip to West Brom with defender George McCartney now a major doubt. McCartney injured a knee during training this week and is unlikely to feature at the Hawthorns. The setback is a fresh blow to Allardyce, who has also lost Mohamed Diame (hamstring) after he pulled up in last weekend's defeat to Liverpool. Yossi Benayoun, Andy Carroll and Jack Collison (all knee), Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) and Alou Diarra (thigh) are all missing for the Hammers.
MANAGER QUOTES
Steve Clarke (West Brom): "With all the games in December, you can quickly get into a good run or quickly into a bad run. We've got into a bad run and the first objective is to stop that."
Sam Allardyce (West Ham): "Sunday’s match at The Hawthorns will be tough. Some people have been surprised at how well West Brom have started, but it was no shock to me. The club seem to have a good structured policy and successive managers — or head coaches as they’re called at West Brom — have bought into that philosophy, from Roberto di Matteo, through Roy Hodgson to Steve Clarke. As for us, this match signals the start of a third group of eight matches, which is the way I like to divide things up, and a new goal for the players."
MATCH FACTS
There have been three penalties awarded in the last four Premier League meetings between West Brom and West Ham.
The last three Premier League meetings between the Hammers and the Baggies have ended as draws.
West Ham have only won two of their last 13 Premier League away fixtures (W2 D3 L8).
The Hammers have only managed five goals in their seven Premier League matches on the road since returning to the top flight.
West Brom have kept seven clean sheets in their last 12 home Premier League matches, but just one in the last five.
The last time these two sides met was in February 2011 at the Hawthorns and the Baggies were 3-0 up at half-time, only for the Hammers to earn a 3-3 draw with a great second half comeback.
West Brom have mustered just one point from a losing position this season, a joint-league-low.
West Ham are the only Premier League side yet to concede a headed goal this season, while only Manchester United (10) have scored more headers than West Brom (eight).
The Hammers have fashioned the highest percentage of attempts from set pieces in the Premier League this term (40%).
Jussi Jääskeläinen has been forced in to making a league-high 71 saves in the Premier League this term.
MATCH ODDS
West Brom (21/20) West Ham (11/4) Draw (5/2)
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