Barclays Premier League
Venue: Upton Park Date: Tuesday, 23 March 2010 Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio & live on Sky Sports 2
TEAM NEWS
**West Ham captain Scott Parker should return from a leg problem for Tuesday’s relegation tussle against Wolves.**Striker Carlton Cole could start after successive appearances as a substitute, while Herita Ilunga and Mark Noble may also be promoted from the bench.
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is expected to name an unchanged side for the seventh successive match.
He has no injury concerns following Saturday’s spirited 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.
West Ham
Suspended: Da Costa (one match) Doubtful: Faubert (hamstring)
**Injured: **Boa Morte & Hines (both knee)
Wolves
Injured: Kightly (ankle/knee)
MATCH PREVIEW
Having played the Premier League’s top three sides during a run of four consecutive defeats, West Ham will probably be relieved to take their chances with Wolves.
“I am not pleased at all to see the team in this situation… But in these moments you have to keep your composure, you have to do the right things and not get emotional because you do not improve the situation”
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola
The Hammers have not lost this fixture at home for 32 years, when Kate Bush was top of the charts with Wuthering Heights. However, it’s a while since the current side were hitting the high notes.
Manager Gianfranco Zola was encouraged by his side’s first-half performance at Arsenal on Saturday, but it was not enough to prevent another defeat. West Ham are now sitting uncomfortably just above the relegation zone, a point and a place below Tuesday’s visitors.
Wolves have emerged unbeaten from their last two away matches, at Burnley and Villa, so another trip to a side in claret and blue will not daunt them.
Wolves were given warning of how difficult it would be to survive in the Premier League when they lost at home to West Ham on the opening day of the season. They have faced up to the challenge; now West Ham need to do the same.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham are unbeaten at home in their last six matches against Wolves (W4, D2).
• Wolves’ only win in their last 15 visits to Upton Park was a 2-1 top-flight success in March 1978.
606: DEBATE
Have your say on this match
West Ham
• The Hammers have lost their last four league matches, conceding 11 goals in the process.
• The defeat to Bolton in their last home game ended a five-match unbeaten run at Upton Park.
• They last came from behind to win a league match in December 2008, beating Stoke 2-1.
Wolves
• Wolves have taken four points from their last two matches, both away.
• They have only won two of their last 12 games.
• They have scored the fewest goals in the league (25), despite managing four in the last two matches.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
West Ham
Cole: 9 goals (9 league); Diamanti: 8 goals (7 league)
Wolves
Doyle: 6 goals (6 league); Craddock: 5 goals (5 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Phil Dowd
Assistant referees: Mark Scholes & Martin Yerby
Fourth official: Stuart Attwell
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
**West Ham **(L0-2 v Arsenal, a): Green; Spector, Tomkins, Upson, Daprela, Diamanti, Kovac (Noble 70), Behrami, Stanislas, Mido (McCarthy 75), Franco (Cole 57). Subs not used: Stech, Ilan, Ilunga, Spence.
**Wolves **(D2-2 v Aston Villa, a): Hahnemann; Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Ward (Mancienne 64), Foley, Guedioura (Elokobi 46), Henry, D Jones, Jarvis (Iwelumo 89), Doyle. Subs not used: Hennessey, Ebanks-Blake, Keogh, Milijas.
MOST RECENT MEETING
Wolves 0-2 West Ham (15 August 2009)
West Ham scorers: Noble 22, Upson 69