Norwich City head to the capital to take on buoyant Hammers

Following Norwich City’s progress into the fourth round of the Capital One Cup after Wednesday nights 3-0 dispatch of West Bromwich Albion, attentions turn to Saturday as Alex Neil’s men travel to Upton Park to face West Ham United. The sides meet on the back of two strong starts to the season in a match both managers are sure to see as an opportunity to pick up all three points.

West Ham United

After two early disappointing home defeats, the Hammers have proven to be one of the surprise packages of the season so far, finding themselves sat in third place ahead of tomorrow’s match up. To follow impressive victories at the Emirates and Anfield, Slaven Bilic’s men became the first team not only to defeat, but even score against, Manchester City following the latter’s unblemished beginning to the season. Victor Moses opened the scoring before Diafra Sakho doubled the Hammers’ lead as they became only the 4th team in Premier League history to win away at Arsenal, Liverpool and City in one season; all the more miraculously, Bilic’s men achieved this feat in consecutive away games. If anyone took advantage of the up to 1600/1 odds of West Ham achieving this prior to the beginning of the season (okay, if anyone did then I think the anti-corruption authorities need to get involved ) then they certainly owe Messrs Bilic and co a pint or two! Tuesday evening brought a minor blip, however, as they crashed out of the Capital One Cup following Leicester’s Andy King’s extra-time winner as the Hammers succumbed to Ranieri’s men for the second time this season. Whilst the strength of Bilic’s side at the King Power Stadium suggest that the Croat was taking cup progression seriously, if West Ham’s start to the season is anything to go by then one would expect his side have bigger fish to fry this season.

Norwich City

The Canaries go into the fixture high on confidence as last weekend’s merited point at Anfield was backed up by a comprehensive cup victory over West Brom on Wednesday night. Alex Neil made widespread changes as only Bassong, Dorrans and Hammers loanee Matt Jarvis remained from the trip to Merseyside. However, the first-team absentees were barely noticed as City delivered a confident and assured performance as goals from the aforementioned Jarvis, Kyle Lafferty and a Pocognoli own goal secured Neil’s men a quick return to Merseyside with a match-up against Everton facing them in the fourth round. City will have to travel to Upton Park without the presence of Matt Jarvis, who is ineligible to play against his parent club. The former Wolves man has been a catalyst in his side’s recent three game unbeaten run, and his addition has provided the Canaries with some much needed balance, accompanied by great pace and the supply of a direct threat. As such, Jarvis’s absence will serve as a big blow as the more centrally-inclined Jonny Howson will likely be pushed out to the left to cover, if the returning Martin Olsson is not yet deemed ready for a full return to Premier League action. Whilst the ex-Leeds man is more than capable of plugging this gap, his placement down the left often leaves the side unbalanced; lacking a direct, wide threat, whilst his creativity in the centre of the park is sacrificed. However, as is the case with every task he is faced, Neil will embark with confidence and will take great belief from West Ham’s questionable home form thus far this season. Whilst the Irons’ away record is flawless, at home they have been felled by both Leicester and Bournemouth already this season and Neil will be hoping to capitalise on this potential frail confidence Bilic’s side have in front of their home faithful.

Head to Head

If recent history of the fixture is anything to go by then West Ham go into tomorrow’s game as hot favourites. The Canaries have largely struggled against the Hammers in recent encounters, winning just one of the past nine meetings between the two sides. This sole victory came at Carrow Road two seasons ago as goals from the since departed Robert Snodgrass and Leroy Fer led Chris Hughton’s team to a 3-1 win. Looking beyond that, you have to go back as far as March 1989 to find the last time City were victorious against The Irons away from home - about time we beat them then, as I’m sure Alex Neil would say if confronted with the statistic, records are there to be broken, after all.

Prediction 1-1.