Tuesday 10 May 2016

Match preview: West Ham v United

In form United make their last ever trip to the Hammers Upton Park home knowing a win would move us above City and into the top four.

The Reds fate is in our own hands and victory in our last two matches- here and at home to Bournemouth on Sunday- would secure Champions League football next season at the expense of cross-town rivals Manchester City. 

Having played in the last FA Cup tie at the East London side's 112-year old stadium, the Reds will once again bring down the curtain at the historic ground in our final league away match of the season.

A month ago, this looked like being a key match in the race for Champions League qualification for both sides, but the hosts 4-1 defeat to Swansea on Saturday- coupled with results elsewhere- all but ended their challenge.

Regardless of that result, it's still been a good season for Slaven Bilic's men who will be desperate to mark the occasion by going out on a high ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium at the start of the next campaign. 

"We have to win our matches, because otherwise we cannot be in the first four and that's the pressure that we have so we can fight until the end.
"West Ham are a very good team, we have had two not so easy games against them and it's not for nothing they are in the top six of the league.
"We were lucky in the FA Cup I think- we deserved to win but we were lucky that West Ham had a goal disallowed in the last minute and the saves of David de Gea.
"We know that it is the last match at this stadium for West Ham- that is a shame- but we cannot let that affect us and we have to do our jobs and we have to win." said United manager Louis Van Gaal. 


Daley Blind and Marcus Rashford were both rested at Carrow Road in readiness for this game so look certain to come back in, but there is major doubt over Matteo Darmian who was stretchered off with an ankle injury in that game. 

Marouane Fellaini is suspended and Anthony Martial a doubt, whilst Luke Shaw and Bastian Schweinsteiger remain sidelined.
West Ham are without Spanish first choice keeper Adrian so Republic of Ireland international Darren Randolph will continue to deputise but there are no other injury worries for the hosts. 


Form guide: West Ham D L D W W L United W W W W D W 
Match odds: West Ham 19/8 Draw 5/2 United 6/4
Referee: Mike Dean (Cheshire) 





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