After a hard fought draw at home to Middlesbrough in the fifth round of the FA Cup, West Ham make the 250 mile long trip to the Riverside Stadium for a replay.
In the first leg, Herita Ilunga late on in the match cancelled out a Stewart Downing opener for the visitors as the match finished 1-1.
Middlesbrough Team News:
Didier Digard is ruled out because of a knee injury picked up in Boro’s draw with Wigan at the weekend.
Striker Marlon King is cup-tied, while Andrew Taylor could be pushing for a place having recovered from an ankle problem.
Middlesbrough: Jones, Turnbull, McMahon, Hoyte, Huth, Pogatetz, Wheater, Bennett, Riggott, Taylor, Walker, O’Neil, Bates, Shawky, Tuncay, Downing, Arca, A Johnson, Alves, Emnes, Aliadiere.
Player to watch: Adam Johnson
The England U21 international, recently linked with some of the country’s top sides, showed energy, pace and skill in the first cup match between the two teams and along with Stewart Downing, is one of Middlesbrough’s main attacking threats.
Hammers Team News:
Lucas Neill returns from suspension, but manager Gianfranco Zola is without the injured James Collins for a month, as well as Louis Boa Morte.
West Ham: Green, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Noble, Collison, Cole, Di Michele, Lastuvka, Kovac, Spector, Sears, Nsereko, Tristan, Tomkins, Dyer, Dixon, Lopez.
Player to watch: Carlton Cole
The England striker was supposedly ruled out for two weeks with an ankle injury but returned to action sooner than expected in Saturday’s defeat to Bolton. Will lead the attacking line with a real threat in attack.
Ref Watch:
Steve Bennett (Kent).
Match Prediction:
1-1, Middlesbrough to wrap it up in extra time.
Next Fixtures:
Manchester City (h)
Sunday, 1st March 2009
Upton Park
