West Ham v Millwall preview

25 August 2009 09:43
West Ham welcome London rivals Millwall to Upton Park on Tuesday night for what will be a fiercely-contested Carling Cup second round clash. It is the first meeting between the two clubs for more than four years, with their last outing in the Championship ending in a 1-1 draw back in April 2005. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola insists he cannot afford to rest players due to the lack of depth in his squad. Zola's only senior frontline striker is Carlton Cole, with technical director Gianluca Nani and chief executive Scott Duxbury looking to add at least one more forward before the transfer window closes. "If I rest players, I've got nobody to play with," he said. "I don't think we're in a position where we can rest many players. We will try to present a team that can do the job." Midfielder Kieron Dyer is set to miss out with tightness to a leg muscle. Herita Ilunga is a doubt with a jaw injury and Jonathan Spector could deputise, while James Tomkins is ready to return from a foot problem. Dean Ashton (ankle), Luis Boa Morte (knee) and Valon Behrami (ankle) are out, while Calum Davenport is in intensive care after being stabbed in both legs. Millwall will be without injured duo Nadjim Abdou and Steve Morison. Midfielder Abdou has yet to recover from the hip injury which has kept him out of the last three games and striker Morison, the Lions' £130,000 summer signing from Stevenage, is out with a hamstring strain. They join long-term absentees Zak Whitbread (hip), Paul Robinson (metatarsal), Pat O'Connor (cruciate) and Danny Senda (Achilles) on the sidelines for the eagerly-anticipated clash. Winger Chris Hackett has been struggling with groin trouble but came off the bench during Friday night's goalless draw at Southend and should be available again. "It's a massive game and one we are looking forward to," said Millwall manager Kenny Jackett. "We've earned it, it's fantastic to go and play a Premier League team and if we get things right and play above our level then you never know."

Source: SKY_Sports