West Ham United Preview

By Mark Heys
February 17 2006

Bolton Wanderers meet Premiership rivals West Ham United in the fifth round of the FA Cup tommorow afternoon knowing that a win would give them a healthy chance of making some serious progression in this years competition.

It is the third occasion that the two sides have met this season with the Wanderers proving victorious in the league game at Upton Park and in the Carling Cup game at the Reebok Stadium.

This fixture was the first ever FA Cup final at the old style Wembley so it would be quite fitting if one of these teams could make it all the way to the final at the new Wembley, construction permitting.

Both teams are doing comfortably in the Premiership and harbour hopes of European qualification but a domestic trophy in the cabinet at the end of the season would be the ultimate aim.

Bolton are on the back of a number of draws in all competitions with the latest coming just a few days ago when they shared out a goalless encounter with French side Olympique Marseille in the UEFA Cup 1st leg.

Sam Allardyce saw veteran Gary Speed make his comeback in that game as a substitute and the Bolton manager could once again use the former Leeds United midfielder in his plans tommorow.

Khalilou Fadiga (knee ligaments), Ivan Campo (broken foot) and Henrik Pedersen (achillies) are all long term absentees and there is also doubts hanging over Matt Jansen (ankle), Radhi Jaidi (virus) and El-Hadji Diouf (groin).

Japan star Hidetoshi Nakata returns from suspension having missed the game against Marseille in midweek and could be preferred over Nigerian playmaker Jay-Jay Okocha.

West Ham boss Alan Pardew has a doubt over former Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll so experienced custodian Shaka Hislop is once again ready to fill the breach in place of the Northern Ireland international.

Doubtful are utility player Hayden Mullins and Welsh international Danny Gabbidon

The Londoners are in a remarkable run of form of late and are looking for their ninth straight win in all competitions following on from Monday's drubbing of Birmingham City.

FA CUP RECORD

28/04/1923 BOLTON WANDERERS 2 WEST HAM UNITED 0

16/01/1937 WEST HAM UNITED 0 BOLTON WANDERERS 0

20/01/1937 BOLTON WANDERERS 1 WEST HAM UNITED 0

08/01/1977 WEST HAM UNITED 2 BOLTON WANDERERS 1

FA CUP FORM GUIDE:

Played: 4

Won: 2

Drawn: 1

Lost: 1

CONNECTIONS

Steve Banks, Franz Carr, David Cross, Les Ferdinand, Harry Kinsell.

IT HAPPENED WHEN BOLTON PLAYED THE HAMMERS

David Jack opened the scoring in the 1923 FA Cup Final between Bolton and West Ham to become the first player to score at Wembley Stadium. Jack later became the first £10,000 player when moving from the Wanderers to Arsenal

That final was also known as the White Horse Final due to the fact that a Police horse called Billy was brought in to ease crowd congestion.