In theory West Ham ought to lose this match and conserve energy for fixtures to come. After all, the club have not beaten Chelsea since May 2003 and their hopes of getting out of the relegation zone should lie with other games. Nonetheless, Gianfranco Zolas’s team can still be dangerous and have been outscored in the league only by Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City. If the visitors go on showing erratic form in defence this may well turn out to be an awkward day for them. Kevin McCarra

Venue Upton Park

Tickets £48-63 (0871 222 2700)

Last season West Ham 0 Chelsea 1

Referee M Dean

This season’s matches 12 Y55, R2, 4.75 cards per game

sportingbet odds West Ham 13-2 Chelsea 4-11 Draw 16-5

West Ham

Subs from Kurucz, Gabbidon, Daprela, Nouble, Dyer, Faubert, Da Costa, Noble, Payne, Jiménez, Ngala

Doubtful Dyer (hamstring), Jiménez (groin), Upson (hamstring)

Injured Behrami (knee, 28 Dec), Cole (knee, Jan), Hines (knee, Jan), Boa Morte (knee, Feb), Davenport (legs, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide LLLWDL

Disciplinary record Y34 R3

Leading scorer Cole 7

Chelsea

Subs from Hilário, Turnbull, Alex, Mikel, Malouda, Zhirkov, Kalou, Kakuta, Borini, Bruma, Sturridge, Matic, Deco, Ferreira

Doubtful Alex (groin), Ballack (thigh), Drogba (back), Sturridge (hip/thigh)

Injured Essien (hamstring, Jan), Bosingwa (knee, Feb)

Suspended None

Form guide WDLWWW

Disciplinary record Y22 R1

Leading scorer Drogba 13

Match pointers

• Chelsea have failed to score only once in their last 17 meetings with West Ham in all competitions

• West Ham are on a run of 11 home league games without a clean sheet dating back to their 1-0 defeat by Chelsea in April

• 12 of the 14 goals Chelsea have conceded have come from set pieces, the highest proportion in the division

• West Ham have lost six of the seven league games in which they have been on level terms at the interval

• If selected, Ashley Cole will be making his 100th Premier League appearance for Chelsea on his 29th birthday

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