Team News
Curtis Davies is suspended after reaching five bookings so Pablo Ibanez will like deputise. Liam Ridgewell could also return but I have my doubts that he will pull on a Blues shirts again. Jean Beausejour will also miss out with a calf injury.
West Ham have a number of injury concerns including ex Villa striker John Carew but they will have Joey O’Brien back after a ban.
Last Meeting
Our last meeting was in February this year in the Premier League. Blues won 1-0 at Upton Park thanks to a Nikola Zigic header.
Recent Form
Blues sit 14th although good results in their two games in hand would put them on the edge of the playoff places. They have won two of their last six matches in the league but all this season’s defeats have come away from home.
West Ham are second and have a pretty even record home and away. They have won four and lost two of their last six games.
Outlook
Christmas time, time to get points. I assume that when Sky Sports chose this game for live coverage on Boxing Day they thought it would be a top of the table clash. Well they were half right. While West Ham held on to a number of top players and added experienced replacements for those that had to be sold we pretty much became a Bosman army. This match highlights how relegation means different things for different clubs. No point feeling sorry for ourselves though.
After our October purple patch ended the results in the league have been mostly disappointing and automatic promotion is looking as far away as ever. Where you are at Christmas is often an indicator of how you will finish but I still believe a playoff place is a possibility. Four of our next six league games are at home and the two away games are against teams currently below us in the table. There are a lot of points to be gained in the next month.
West Ham will provide the toughest of those six opponents despite stuttering a little in recent weeks. Their high profile strike force of Carlton Cole, John Carew and Frederic Piquionne have scored only a combined eleven goals which is the same as Chris Wood has acheived on his own. Unlike us though they are getting goals from central midfield where Kevin Nolan in particular needs watching. Oh for a midfileder that actually likes to get in the box. Defensively they are also strong having conceded only eight times on their travels which when you consider Blues have only conceded four at home suggests this game won’t be a goal fest.
Blues have had a reasonable break (For them) since the last game so hopefully they can come out fighting with Wood and King taking the chances that are created. If feeling charitable we can always put Zigic on to give the away fans something to laugh at. Boxing Day is always a special day in the football calendar so here’s to a good crowd, a good atmosphere and a good result.
My Prediction 1-1.
C’mon you blue boys.
@Aylesbury_Blue
hi aylesburyblue. hope your having a grand time of it. We should win this by the odd goal. So going for a win. ivar