Source: SKY_Sports
Boro v West Ham preview
Middlesbrough hope the FA Cup will provide some welcome respite from their Premier League woes in the fifth-round replay at home to West Ham United.[LNB] Gareth Southgate's side have tumbled into the relegation zone after failing to win in 14 games, while also scoring just once in nine league matches.[LNB]Boro have at least troubled the scorers in the FA Cup, beating Barrow and Wolves en route to facing West Ham, with the first fixture finishing 1-1 at Upton Park.[LNB]Southgate insists Afonso Alves should not shoulder all the blame for Boro's problems in front of goal and the Brazilian striker is set to start up front.[LNB]Injury troublesJeremie Aliadiere is pushing for a place after coming on as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with Wigan on Saturday, but Didier Digard is out.[LNB]Digard is facing a battle to play again this season after the French midfielder suffered knee and thigh injuries following a challenge by former Boro youngster Lee Cattermole at the weekend.[LNB]Marlon King, who was ineligible to face parent club Wigan, is still unavailable after he featured in the FA Cup while on loan at Hull City.[LNB]Chris Riggott and Andrew Taylor are out, while Brad Jones is expected to retain his place in goal ahead of Ross Turnbull.[LNB]Strong HammersHammers boss Gianfranco Zola is treating the FA Cup seriously and will pick as strong a team as possible for the replay at the Riverside.[LNB]Zola has already enjoyed one successful cup trip to the North East this season after Valon Behrami and Mark Noble scored in a 2-0 win at Hartlepool in the last round.[LNB]Lucas Neill is available after missing the 2-1 defeat at Bolton due to suspension and he is likely to replace Jonathan Spector at right-back.[LNB]With James Collins out for a few weeks due to injury, James Tomkins is hoping he will be given the nod to partner Matthew Upson at centre-half.[LNB]Czech Republic midfielder Radoslav Kovac is in line to make his Hammers debut, while fellow new boy Savio Nsereko is pushing for his first start.[LNB]Dean Ashton, Luis Boa Morte, Danny Gabbidon and Kieron Dyer are out, while youngster Bondz N'Gala has travelled with the squad.[LNB]
