WEST HAM VS CARDIFF: PREVIEW
- Bobby Vincent
- Dec 3, 2018
- 2 min read
TEAM NEWS
West Ham defenders Aaron Creswell and Fabian Balbuena are both doubts ahead of the visit of Cardiff.
Ryan Fredericks, Manuel Lanzini, Winston Reid, Carlos Sanchez and Andriy Yarmolenko all remain out for the Hammers.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing looks set to make his first Cardiff appearance since late August after recovering from a knee problem.
Jazz Richards has been ruled out, though, while Greg Cunningham, Joe Bennett and Kenneth Zohore are all expected to be eased back into action.
THE MANAGERS
West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has hailed two of his players, Robert Snodgrass and Felipe Anderson for their improved form recently.
"I think Felipe is improving. He played a very good game and he knows more about what he should be doing and not doing. He is improving every game.
"I spoke with Snodgrass at the beginning of the season. It depended on what he wanted and I gave him some demands about his work. He's a great professional player who has the desire to be here."
Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock was full of praise for his opponent's attack in his pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday night's clash.
"You have a £45m left winger, a £30m striker and £15-20m wide players. They've got a very, very good front four - as good as anyone in the division really," said Warnock.
"I would have any of those four. We have got to go there and try and compete. It is important that we are very strong and well organised to start with.
"We don't want to go there and just roll over, give them an early goal and get the crowd up. Chicharito - his two goals [in the 3-0 win over Newcastle] were fantastic.
"[Marko] Arnautovic, wow, he has been a revelation."
MATCH STATS
West Ham are on a six-match winning streak against Tuesday's opponents, and haven't conceded in five of those six games.
The Hammers are unbeaten in all of their nine top-flight home meetings with Cardiff, winning six and drawing three.
If the Irons win on Tuesday, it will be the first time since January 2017 that they've won consecutive Premier League matches.
Cardiff, along with Fulham, have the joint worst away record in the division, with just one point earned from both teams.
Also, Cardiff's total of two away goals is the lowest in England's top four divisions.
BETTING ODDS
West Ham United: 4/6
Draw: 3/1
Cardiff City: 19/4
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