CUP PREVIEW - WEST HAM

City travel to Upton Park for third round tie

West Ham United v Cardiff City,
Captial One Cup third round
Venue: Upton Park
Date: Tuesday, 24th September 2013, KO 7.45pm
Match-tag: #WHUCAR (Live tweets on @CardiffCityFC)
Nav it: E13 9AZ
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The Bluebirds’ make a return to Upton Park to take on fellow Barclays Premier League outfit West Ham United in the Capital One Cup third round.

MATCH FACTS

- Cardiff City reached the final of this competition in 2012, missing out on penalties to Liverpool at Wembley
- West Ham have won the last four competitive encounters against the Bluebirds
- This will be West Ham manager Sam Allardyce’s 100th game in charge of the Hammers, his first game in charge also coming against City in 2011.

KEY PLAYER – Kevin Nolan

Pivotal in the Hammers’ midfield since joining manager Sam Allardyce at Upton Park in the summer of 2011, Nolan continues to be an ever present for West Ham in their second season back in the Premier League.

Scorer of the second goal in the Bluebirds’ opening day defeat , Nolan is well known the Bluebirds having scored three goals for the Hammers in their last four against City.

IN-FORM PLAYER- Ravel Morrison



Grabbing his first goal in the Premier League in West Ham’s 3-2 defeat to Everton on Saturday, the former Manchester United midfielder returned to Upton Park this summer following last season’s loan spell with Championship outfit Birmingham City.

After a deadly pre-season,which saw him score six goals during the Hammers’ preparations, Morrison has made four appearances in the Premier League since also scoring in their Capital One Cup second round win over Cheltenham Town.

RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS):

West Ham United: WDWLDL
Last time out – West Ham United 2-3 Everton – Saturday, 21st September, Barclays Premier League.

West Ham United were dealt a late blow at Upton Park as Everton front-man Romelu Lukaku headed home an 85th minute winner to secure all three points for the Toffees.

The Hammers were 2-1 up with less than 15 minutes to go, Ravel Morrison giving the Hammers the lead after the half hour mark before a Mark Noble penalty regained their advantage following Leighton Baines’ free-kick on the hour.  Baines drew the Toffees level with another unstoppable free-kick with just seven minutes left to play before Lukaku grabbed all three points just two minutes later.

Team – West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Rat, O’Brien, Collins, Nolan (Taylor 80), Jarvis (Vaz Te 72), Morrison, Noble (S/O 81), Diame, Maiga (Petric 63). Subs not used: Adrian, McCartney, Tomkins, Collison.

LAST ROUND:
Capital One Cup second round, Tuesday 27th August - West Ham United 2-1 Cheltenham Town



Two goals either side of half-time from Ricardo Vaz Te and Ravel Morrison was enough for the Hammers to see off League Two outfit Cheltenham Town at Upton Park, with Matt Richards' penalty for the Robins just before the hour mark proving to be mere consolation.

Team - West Ham United: Adrian, McCartney, Tomkins, Rat, Chambers, Collison, Taylor, Morrison, Diarra (Diame 34), Cole (Downing 45), Vaz te. Subs not used: Henderson, Nolan, Lletget, Lee, Ruddock.

Cardiff City: LWWDDL
Last time out – Cardiff City 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur - Sunday, 22nd September, Barclays Premier League

City were dealt a late blow as Spurs’ midfielder Paulinho fired home a late goal from close range to earn the visitors all three points at Cardiff City Stadium despite a resilient display from the Bluebirds and particularly David Marshall.

The Scottish International pulled-off a string of fantastic saves to deny Spurs throughout the match only for substitute Erik Lamela to pick out Paulinho in the area deep into stoppage time to earn Spurs all three points.
 
Team -Cardiff City: Marshall, Taylor, Caulker, Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Campbell, Kim, Gunnarsson, Theophile-Catherine, Bellamy. Subs not used: Lewis; Hudson, Odemwingie, Mutch, Cowie, Mason, Maynard.

LAST ROUND:
Capital One Cup second round, Tuesday 27th August - Accrington Stanley 0-2 Cardiff City



Two quick-fire second half goals from Nicky Maynard and Rudy Gestede saw the Bluebirds past League Two outfit Accrington Stanley and secure a third round tie with the Hammers.

Team - Cardiff City: Lewis; Brayford, Hudson, McNaughton, John; Smith (Conway 65), Mutch, Cowie, Noone; Maynard (Mason 74), Cornelius (Gestede 44). Subs not used: Moore; Lappin, Harris, Oshilaja.

LAST MEETING:
2013-14 FA Barclays Premier League, Upton Park, Saturday 17th August 2013 – West Ham United 2-0 Cardiff City

An early strike from midfielder Joe Cole and second half finish from Kevin Nolan gave the Hammers the victory on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League season as the Bluebirds made their first appearance in the top-flight for 51-years.

Cardiff line-up: Marshall, Connolly, Caulker, Turner, Whittingham, Medel, Campbell (Mutch 90), Kim (Maynard 74), Gunnarsson, Bellamy (Gestede 74), John. Subs not used: Lewis; Hudson, Smith, Cowie.

REFEREE: Roger East

Roger East is one of the Premier League’s most recent recruits after a successful spell as a Football League referee.

The Wiltshire FA official, who has been on the National list since 2006, was an assistant referee at the 2004 FA Cup Final and 2006 FA Community Shield before stepping into the middle for the 2006/07 campaign.

After impressing during the 2012/13 season, East earned a permanent spot in the Select Group of Premier League officials from the 2013/14 season.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BLUEBIRDS VICTORY OVER ACCRINGTON STANLEY IN THE LAST ROUND BELOW