Capital One Cup semi-final Second Leg
Venue: Upton Park Date: Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Match Links: http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?...07&part=sports
TEAM NEWS
West Ham have skipper Kevin Nolan and defender James Tomkins available after serving four and one-match suspensions respectively.
Andy Carroll and Ravel Morrison will play some part, while Ricardo Vaz Te could make a comeback.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is expected to rest a host of players given their 6-0 advantage from the first leg.
Stevan Jovetic and Jack Rodwell could be involved after long injury absences.
MATCH PREVIEW
West Ham's 6-0 mauling at the hands of Manchester City in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final has left them as 500-1 shots with some bookmakers to reach the final. It is mission impossible time for the Hammers, who are seemingly playing for nothing but pride.
City smashed through the 100-goal barrier for the season in just their 34th game on Saturday, and nine of those goals have come against the Hammers. The home side are bereft of four defenders and back in the back in the Premier League relegation zone after Saturday's comprehensive defeat to Newcastle, so City may fancy their chances of adding to their aggregate score.
Beleaguered West Ham boss Sam Allardyce will hope for damage limitation and will swiftly concentrate his energies after this match on signing the reinforcements his side so desperately need ahead of their next match - the small matter of a trip to play Chelsea.
City are relentlessly chasing silverware on four fronts. Barring an inconceivable turnaround, they will be waiting with baited breath on Wednesday night to see if it if is bitter rivals Manchester United or Sunderland who they will face at Wembley on Sunday, 2 March.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Manchester City have lost none of their last eight meetings with West Ham in all competitions.
City's 6-0 victory in the first-leg was the joint-biggest win in League Cup semi-final history - West Ham were also on the end of the other six-goal defeat when they lost 6-0 to Oldham in 1990.
Manchester City met West Ham once in the League Cup back in 1984, beating the Hammers 2-1 in a replay at Upton Park after a goalless draw at Maine Road.
Both clubs were semi-finalists in 1964 and 2011, with West Ham losing to the eventual winners on both occasions.
Manchester City strikers Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero have both scored 21 goals each this season in all competitions - one fewer than West Ham's squad have managed in total in the Premier League this season.
West Ham United
The Hammers have found the net in 34 of their last 35 League Cup games at Upton Park.
They have lost five of their last six League Cup semi-final ties and have not reached a final since 1980-81.
They have never won the League Cup, finishing runners-up in 1966 and 1981.
Manchester City
They have scored 16 goals in four League Cup ties this season, conceding just once
Edin Dzeko has scored six goals in four League Cup appearances this season.
They have won the tournament twice - in 1970 and 1976.