A ding-dong relegation battle takes place at Upton Park on a chilly evening in England’s capital, as West Ham host Norwich (Watch online via Live Extra, 2:45pm ET) with a huge three-point haul on the line.
Both teams are on 25 points, as the Hammers sit 15th and just above Norwich on goal difference. And both these teams have been solid defensively, with West Ham keeping 10 clean sheets and Norwich keeping nine. This is sure to be a tight game as the two sides want to climb clear of the bottom three, as they are just two points above the drop zone.
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The Hammers are aiming to win three games in a row in the PL for the first time since 2007, as they’ve now kept three clean sheets after back to back 2-0 wins over Swansea and Aston Villa, as well as that massive 0-0 draw away at Chelsea. It has certainly been their best spell of the season as Big Sam Allardyce’s side steer themselves away from danger.
As for Norwich they come off the back of a brilliant result at the weekend, as they drew 0-0 at home against free-scoring Manchester City. But goals have once again been hard to come by for the Canaries, as they’ve scored just 19 times this season, the second lowest total in the league.
The Hammers are still without Andy Carroll who is suspended after his red card against Swansea last weekend, so Carlton Cole continues to start up front. Norwich start with Gary Hooper up front on his own as Chris Hughton makes one change with Robert Snodgrass coming in for Anthony Pilkington. New signing Joseph Yobo also makes his second start in the heart of Norwich’s defense.
LINEUPS
West Ham: Adrian, McCartney, Nolan, Tomkins, Jarvis, Taylor, Noble, Collins, Demel, Downing, C.Cole. Subs: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Armero, Collison, Diame, Borriello, Nocerino
Norwich City: Ruddy; Martin, Yobo, Bassong, Olsson; Tettey, Johnson; Snodgrass, Fer, Redmond; Hooper. Subs: Bunn, Whittaker, van Wolfswinkel, Pilkington, Hoolahan, Elmander, Garrido
