Spotlight on West Ham

West Ham and Fulham both had disappointing results in the midweek Carling Cup fixtures. Both sides lost to Championship opposition so no doubt this weekend they will field stronger teams at Craven Cottage to make amends.

New signings Bobby Zamora and John Pantsil face their former club and I am sure they will want to impress and have something to prove to the opposing fans. A tip of mine is to put Zamora as first goal scorer as I believe he will go out hard from the off and score within the first half hour.

I also expect to see former Hammer Paul Konchesky feature heavily down the left flank linking up with Zoltan Gera who played on the right side on Tuesday.

Looking at this seasons statistics Fulham have not lost at home and West Ham have not yet won away. But with the Gianfranco Zola managing the Hammers there may well be the ‘feel good factor’ present so they may break their duck.

The same fixture last season caused uproar after Nolberto Solano impeded Antti Niemi in the face before scoring in the 87th minute. I do not expect lightning to strike twice and have a feeling that this could turn out to be a very good game.

Zola is trying to install stylish football into West Ham and since his arrival two weeks ago I hope the players have got to grips with it. If so we could be in for an entertaining game.

Roy Hodgson is more than likely going to stick with the same line up that lost 1 nil to Blackburn last weekend. Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Bullard, Gera, Zamora and Johnson.

My predictions for the game is that it will be a two all draw. Zamora and Johnson both scoring.