Goalkeeper Robert Green has returned after knee surgery so Manuel Almunia has gone back to Arsenal following the end of his month-long loan.

Bristol City could be unchanged from the side which won 2-1 at Barnsley on Saturday.

The Robins do have two long-term injury absentees, however, in Louis Carey (knee) and Jamie McAllister (ankle).

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Ham have won 16, drawn eight and lost four of 28 league and cup matches against Bristol City.

• They have not gone head-to-head since the 1992/93 second level league campaign, when West Ham did the double with a 7-1 aggregate score and went on to gain promotion.

• The Hammers are looking for a fourth successive victory over Bristol City, and are unbeaten in eight league and cup games against them (W5, D3), since a 2-1 top-flight reverse at Upton Park in February 1978.

West Ham United

• West Ham, one place and three points off the pace, are looking for a ninth win of this league season, and a third in a row.

• Their return of 27 points in 14 games is their best start to a league season in 21 years.

• Their 26 league goals have been shared between 13 different players – the longest goalscorers’ list in the Championship.

Bristol City

• Bristol City gained their first win under Derek McInnes, with Saturday’s 2-1 away triumph over Barnsley. It followed five straight losses and a 10-match winless run in the league.

• The rock-bottom Robins are averaging a point a game away from home, but maximum points here will provide their 200th victory in a second tier game on the road.

• With only five players, Bristol City own the shortest goalscorers list in the Championship.

West Ham are playing like a team that are in the clear, not someone trying to get out of the bottom three.

Fingers crossed they can improve in the second half.

I’m sure a few of the players are already looking at where they will be next season – their contracts are up, they’ll be off

The Londoners desperately need someone to breathe life into their relegation battle in the manner of Carlos Tevez, whose late flurry of goals helped the club beat the drop in 2007.

Scott Parker looks their most likely saviour, but the Hammers captain is unlikely to feature because of an Achilles problem. The only consolation is that former Upton Park favourite Tevez, now Manchester City skipper, is also sidelined by injury.

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan said this week that the club have only a “25-30%” chance of staying up, publically questioning the commitment of some players. Only time will tell whether such outspoken views fire up Avram Grant’s side, or further undermine morale.

Manchester City boosted their Champions League hopes with victory at Blackburn, where Edin Dzeko finally ended his goal drought after failing to score in his first nine Premier League games. City look well set for a top-four spot, but Roberto Mancini’s men have not won back-to-back league games since New Year’s Day.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
• Manchester City have lost just one of their last 11 league and cup games against West Ham.
• The Hammers have never won a Premier League match at Eastlands.
Manchester City
• City have not won back-to-back league games since New Year’s Day.
• They are unbeaten in seven league games at Eastlands since losing to Everton in December.
• City’s last six Premier League goals have been scored by six different players.
West Ham
• The Hammers have won only one away league game in 2011 (at Blackpool).
• They have lost their last six Premier League matches in Manchester, failing to score in four of them.
• West Ham have failed to win their last five games, losing the last four.

I’m still trying to decide whether or not it’s a conspiracy against the Hammers, or the more likely situation where the Hammers just don’t want it as much as the fellow regulators.

Today we’re off to face Manchester City who will be looking to confirm their place in Europe for next year, while with a win today we can jump out of the relegation bottom three on goal difference.

Come on you irons!!!

Live Feed

• Going to bed (in Australia), this is shit! West Ham, I want to wake up tomorrow with some good news, lets come out in the second half and PROVE that we deserve to stay up.
  Or, as the buy behind us at the Bobby Moor Lower used to say,
  Come on you Irons….. It’s fucking Bolton!
  
• Half Time What a load of al’ SHIT! This is certainly not going as well as I wanted.
• 45 Cahill foul on Piquionne in the 45th minute to give us a chance to do something on the scoreboard in the first 1/2.
• 40:32
  Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Mark Noble. The ball is sent over by Mark Noble, Chung-Yong Lee gets a block in. Thomas Hitzlsperger takes a shot. Save by Jussi Jaaskelainen.
  YES!!! We’ve got another shot on target!
• 37:03
  The ball is crossed by Marcos Alonso.
  Who gives a rats arse about that. Why did it take nearly 5 whole minutes for an update? Is the game THAT boring?
• 32:20 Can I place a bet on Bolton more than doubling our shots on and off goal?
• Seems like, based on the telepromter, Noble and Hitz are tackling hard!
• 10 shots to 3 thus far. And of that they have 6 on target to our 1. Come on you Irons!!!
• Have I ever mentioned how much it frustrates me to follow West Ham. And what makes it even worse is that the bloody television isn’t showing the game, so I’m getting the bad news drip fed.
• 19: Lee scores the second……. might go to bed. 2-0
• Now my bets are screwed as well. Come on Davis! If you’re going to score you should have scored first. Wanker
• Hammers down 1-0 after just 14 minutes
• To start off with the television where I’m staying won’t show the fucking game. FUCK

We’re back again at Bolton, and we all know what that means…. and as Kylie puts it…….

Kevin ‘fucking’ Davis

Yes that’s right. The rapidly ageing Davis is sure to enjoy another fruitful afternoon against the mighty Irons and once again use us to add to his tally of goals for the year.

I remember the first game of the year againt Bolton at home. We had such high hope for the season. We had recruited another season ticket holder and we couldn’t wait to show him just how great it was to support West Ham in the Bobby Moore Lower.

It didn’t take long for our season to set itself in stone….. and a piss poor stone that was too. I look back at the day, we were so happy with the way we were playing. Passing was good, shooting was on target, and if it wasn’t for a brilliant display from the Bolton keeper they would have been out of the game after 45 minutes.

But of course, this is West Ham.

Cole destroyed the first half of his season when he made a weak attempt at converting a spot kick….. I’m still not sure why Noble wasn’t behind that one.

From there it was all downhill, with Kevin Davis kicking Upson in the face to pick up his first goal before they finished us off 1-3.

Today will be different though……… right?

Of course it will.

Don’t get me wrong though, I’ve still got Kevin Davis down to score the first goal of the game, but I’m confident that we can come back from that to win the game 1-2. Here’s the slip!

West Ham vs Bolton Bet Slip

Head-to-head

• Bolton are unbeaten in their last eight matches against West Ham in all competitions. Four of the last six encounters have ended with the Trotters winning 3-1.
• Kevin Davies has scored eight goals in his last 11 appearances against the Hammers in all competitions.
• West Ham have never won on 11 previous trips to the Reebok Stadium in all competitions.

Bolton

• The Trotters are in danger of losing three successive league games for the first time this season.
• Only Chelsea and Liverpool have left the Reebok Stadium with all three points so far this season.
• Bolton are looking to complete just their second double of the season, after beating Wolves both home and away.
• Owen Coyle’s men are unbeaten against any of the sides currently entrenched in the bottom five (W4, D4).

West Ham

• Avram Grant’s side are unbeaten in their last four away Premier League fixtures.
• The Hammers have scored two or more goals in six of their last eight league matches.
• West Ham have been caught offside a Premier League-high 102 times.

Not only did we see West Ham move up to 14th position on the table (always good taking points from early games), but we also remain undefeated by Tottenham this year and Green earned his second clean sheet against the Hot Spurs.

Green was made to work for it though. With Tottenham hitting the post within the first few minutes of the game with a shot from just outside the box by Dawson, they then peppered Greens goal with four or five ‘should have scored’ opportunities…. and that was just in the first 20 minutes of the game.

For me, Green made two BLINDING saves. The foot stuck out against Defoe’s shot on target that kept him at 99 Premier League goals, and the magnificent left hand full stretched tip onto the post from a Gareth Bale free kick with Lars Jacobson completing the clearance with Defoe looking to clean up.

AND, did anyone notice what Defoe had under his shirt? Yes the silly prat was wearing a 100 Goals shirt that we could see under his top only for him to miss all of his chances… and there were a few.

It wasn’t all one way traffic though. West Ham had their opportunities (albeit not as many) to win the game but Coles efforts on goal were, for lack of a better word, weak.

The defence should hold their heads high though, and with Tompkins missing from the starting lineup the boys did a sterling job to give us every opportunity to stay out of the bottom three.

I’m now looking at the remaining results coming through only to see every team below us winning or drawing. I swear this year everyone has decided to fuck over West Ham and make sure they get relegated.

League Table after Tottenham vs West Ham

Match Commentary

90+4 Modric tries a shot from 30 yards but it again goes skywards and West Ham looked to have earned a crucial point.

90+2 Spurs are pressing furiously but the Hammers defence has been outstanding all day and a goal now would be harsh on either team.

90 Four minutes added time at White Hart Lane.

90 22nd attempt on goal by Spurs and Bridge gets in the way of Defoe to deflect his effort in Green’s hands.

89 Pavlyuchenko sets up Defoe 20 yards out but his superb run cannot result in anything but a wide effort.

87 Parker is a running can of Red Bull as he pushes forward into the Spurs half to relieve the onslaught.

86 Brilliant free-kick by Bale, whose free-kick is fantastically tipped by Green onto the bar and out for a corner.

85 Free-kick from 30 yards to Spurs with Bale and Van der Vaart standing over the ball.

84 Modric’s ball in is cleared as Sandro cleverly sets up Bale whose cross is again cleared by West Ham.

84 Assou-Ekotto’s cross in comes to Lennon whose pass is blocked by Da Costa for a corner.

83 Upson tackles superbly on Modric and interrupts another Spurs attack, it’s kitchen sink time for Tottenham at the moment.

81 Pavlyuchenko drives at Green who superbly tips the ball wide twice in quick succession.

78 Alan Hutton is on Vedran Corluka as Spurs look to continue their wing attack.

78 Cole comes off for Victor Obinna for West Ham

77 Gallas pulls up with what looks like a hamstring problem after blocking Cole from winning the ball.

77 Wayne Bridge has been superb after stealing the ball from Defoe and setting up O’Neil who gets tackled.

76 The urgency of Spurs is heightened as Sandro sets up Pavyuchenko whose shot is blocked by Upson.

73 Pavlyuchenko’s first touch is a header from a Modric cross but it is straight at Green.

71 Van der Vaart is taken off and on comes Roman Pavlyuchenko for Spurs.

70

70 Noble has a great chance for West Ham. Cole plays a superb ball to the midfielder who cuts inside to play on his left foot then shoots right footed wide of the mark.

69 Jacobsen has been a wall on the right hand side this half and West Ham nearly break on the right before Assou-Ekotto interrupts the move.

68 Noble can’t get his shot away and from the resulting break Upson is booked for a tackle on Defoe.

67 Sandro takes a lash from 30 yards but the ball barely stays in the stadium. Still both teams pressing but yet to find any reward.

66 A foul is somehow given from the corner after Upson barely collides with Gomes.

65 Parker plays through Ba and his stinging shot is saved superbly by Gomes for a corner.

64 Lennon’s pace takes him to the touchline before playing the ball to Modric, who in space shoots but a deflection takes the sting off the ball and is comfortable for Green.

62 Free-kick to Spurs is cleared by Cole but Spurs are back in possession again trying to break down the stubborn Hammers backline.

59 West Ham are playing some nice stuff in the centre of the pitch and Spurs will have to wary of their engine like midfielders and fast, strong strikers on the break.

57 Cole is cautioned for the tackle on Sandro, who is still on the pitch in the Spurs midfield.

56 Cole’s studs go into Sandro and if the Brazilian stays on he is made of sterner stuff than Clint Eastwood considering his current illness as well.

55 Defoe gets taken down by Parker and the Hammers centre halfs will have to buy him a pint as Defoe was moments away from lashing a strike at Green.

54 Cole is everywhere for West Ham at the moment and earns a free-kick in his own half to relieve the Spurs wave.

52 Somehow West Ham’s goal is yet to be penetrated. Spurs pass it around the edge of the area beautifully but Bale and Defoe fail to get a shot away.

51 Noble has no been cautioned by Dean after returning from treatment on the touchline.

50 Best chance of the game and again Defoe is denied his 100th league goal. Modric cleverly passes to the striker in the penalty area but he hits the ball straight at Green from five yards.

49 Bale goes down after a tackle with studs up from Noble and the Hammers man nearly goes into the referee’s notebook but the card is put back into Mike Dean’s pocket.

47 Good start by the Hammers will Cole pressing anytime the ball is in the Spurs half.

45 Early chance for West Ham as Cole’s shot is saved by Gomes and pushed wide.

Replays show Sandro vomiting on the pitch and you would imagine his substitution would be imminent.

James Perkins writes: “I think Spurs will have to start looking over their shoulders now as I believe other teams will go on a run to challenge their fifth place.”

Half time at White Hart Lane. A frantic first half with both teams missing chances to take the lead in an open display of attacking football. Lennon had the best chance with his effort that deflected back off the post but West Ham have settled nicely and the second half will hopefully be as exciting. Keep sending all your e-mails in to jackwoodfield@hotmail.com

45+1 Van der Vaart’s free-kick is saved easily by Green as one minute of added time is given.

45 First booking goes to Parker who misses his tackle and brutally hacks down Van der Vaart.

44 Hitzlsperger plays a clever through ball to Ba but the striker’s shot is close enough to Gomes. West Ham finishing the half on top.

43 Ba produces a moment of magic with a Bergkamp like turn but Dawson manages to clear the ball to safety.

42 Gomes catches a cross from Hitzlsperger early and sets off another break as Spurs look to end the half in front.

40 The switch of flanks nearly pays off for Spurs. Lennon cuts inside Lars Jacobsen and hits the post with the deflection cleared by West Ham.

39 Lennon and Bale have switched flanks but West Ham are defending resolutely at the moment and nearly break with Ba’s backheel just missing the path of Noble.

38 Hitzlsperger’s free-kick is cleared and Van der Vaart breaks but Bale’s right-footed shot is not powerful enough to challenge Green.

37 Gary O’Neil wins a free-kick in the Spurs half after a nice turn of pace.

35 Defoe is given offside and Spurs are left frustrated despite playing some sublime football in the centre of the pitch.

34 The West Ham strikeforce play their part in the West Ham defence, with Ba tracking back to interrupt Spurs possession and Cole hounding William Gallas in the Tottenham half.

32 Modric plays a smart ball into Defoe before winning it back on the edge of the area before shooting inches away from the goal.

31 West Ham are smartly putting two men on Bale now anytime the Wales winger wins the ball.

29 Corluka mis-places a bass to Lennon and West Ham break with Ba’s 30-yard effort flying high and wide.

28 West Ham clear their lines but Spurs win possession back and Defoe earns a free-kick after being tackled from behind by Matthew Upson.

27 Spurs regain possession and amazingly Parker runs the ball past the goal-line only to be ignored by the linesman before a corner is finally given.

26 Really good play from Mark Noble earns him a free-kick after a foul from Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

24 Vedran Corluka’s cross into the box is met by Defoe who can only tamely poke the ball into Robert Green’s hands. Fantastic, open game at White Hart Lane.

22 Hitzlsperger’s free-kick into the box looks dangerous but Dawson clears and earns a foul from Da Costa.

22 Noble blocks off Van der Vaart but nothing is given by the referee to the shock of the Spurs fans.

20 Amazing chance for West Ham. Ba plays through Cole who one-on-one with Gomes shoots the ball into the keeper’s hands.

19 Again Spurs play it across the 18 yard box to Van der Vaart and again the play is missed by West Ham. Luckily for the Hammers the Dutchmans’s shot goes wide.

18 Spurs break forward again and look menacing any time Bale or Lennon are played through. Defoe picks up the ball and his shot deflects for a corner.

16 Modric has a shot from 25 yards after being given plenty of space by West Ham but his effort is wide.

15 West Ham seem to have settled down now. Scott Parker is playing everywhere it seems to keep the Hammers moving foreward.

13 Parker tackles Modric and West Ham create their best chance at Thomas Hitzlsperger crosses to Cole who cannot keep his volley on target.

11 Demba Ba holds the ball up brilliantly for West Ham as the Hammers look to maintain a spell of posession. The ball falls to Carlton Cole but his shot is saved comfortably by Gomes.

10 Manuel Da Costa nearly lets Defoe in but recovers well. West Ham are looking very nervy early on at White Hart Lane.

9 The Spurs corner comes in but Lennon cannot keep his shot down and the ball flies into the crowd.

8 Lennon’s pace is mesmeric as he runs past Bridge and crosses in for West Ham to frantically clear for a corner.

7 Bale’s driven cross is met by Jermain Defoe in the penalty area but the striker narrowly nods the ball wide.

5 The pace of Spurs is overwhelming on the flanks. Aaron Lennon is giving Wayne Bridge a taste of a tough afternoon as he weaves around the England defender.

4 Great chance for Tottenham. Rafael van der Vaart plays in Luka Modric whose pass to Michael Dawson results in a 25-yard drive from the England defender with the ball hitting the crossbar. Fantastic start from Spurs.

3 Gareth Bale latches on to a long through ball and looks lively as two West Ham defenders are needed to clear their lines.

2 Scott Parker plays his first long ball of the game but Mark Noble loses possession under Spurs pressure.

1 Spurs kick off in the sunshine at White Hart Lane kicking from right to left.

Over the past six games we’ve managed to take as many points as Tottenham, and their record coming off a European match is pretty rubbish so things are looking up.

Unfortunately it’s been a while since we’ve had a win at White Heart Lane, and the Hot Spurs will be looking to extract revenge from their 1 – 0 defeat at Upton Park back in September.

Tottenham vs West Ham Match Facts

Head-to-head

• West Ham beat Tottenham 1-0 in September, ending a run of five successive Spurs wins in this fixture.
• The Hammers’ last victory at White Hart Lane was a 2-1 win on 24 April 1999. Harry Redknapp was the West Ham manager that day, while the visitors’ team sheet included Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Ian Wright.

Tottenham

• Spurs have dropped points in five of nine Premier League games which followed Champions League duty. Three of their six league losses this term came off the back of European action, including their only home defeat (against Wigan in August).
• That slip-up against Wigan is their only loss in the last 24 top-flight matches at White Hart Lane.
• They have won five of their last seven home league games, drawing the other two (against Chelsea and Manchester United).
• Jermain Defoe’s brace against Wolves ended his 11-month wait for a top-flight goal. His next strike will be his 100th in the Premier League.
• Harry Redknapp’s side have gained an unrivalled 21 Premier League points from losing positions this season.

West Ham

• Demba Ba has scored four goals in three league starts for the Hammers.
• The Hammers have taken 11 points from the last possible 18, as have Tottenham. Only three clubs have better recent records; Arsenal (14), Liverpool and Chelsea (both 13).
• West Ham players have been caught offside 96 times this term, the highest figure in the top flight.

This is how the Guardian thinks they will line up….

Starting lineup predicted by the Guardian