Man City v West Ham

Barclays Premier League
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium Date: Sunday, 1 May Kick-off: 1610 BST
Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 1 and highlights on Match of the Day 2; listen on BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio Manchester 95.1FM and DAB and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City could recall Edin Dzeko after his winner at Blackburn.

Captain Carlos Tevez is back in England after having treatment on a hamstring injury in Milan, but the Argentine is not ready for a first-team return.

West Ham are without midfielder Mark Noble, who suffered a stomach injury at Chelsea last weekend.

Scott Parker is almost certain to miss out because of an Achilles problem, while Wayne Bridge in ineligible, but Matthew Upson is back after illness.

Manchester City

Injured/unavailable: Boateng & M Johnson (both knee), Given (shoulder), Richards & Tevez (both hamstring), K Toure (club suspension)

West Ham

Doubtful: Parker (Achilles)

Injured/unavailable: Bridge (ineligible to face parent club), Dyer (hamstring), Kurucz (knee), Noble (stomach), O’Neil (ankle), Stanislas (hernia)

MATCH PREVIEW

Bottom of the table West Ham head to Eastlands, where they have never won a Premier League match, hoping to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat.

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 West Ham co-owner David Sullivan

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.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Manchester City

Tevez: 22 goals (19 league); Balotelli: 10 goals (6 league)

West Ham

Cole: 11 goals (5 league); Piquionne: 9 goals (6 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Howard Webb

Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Bob Pollock

Fourth official: Mike Jones

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Man City (W1-0 v Blackburn, a): Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov, De Jong, Barry, Adam Johnson (Dzeko 72), Yaya Toure, Silva (Boyata 90), Balotelli (Vieira 83). Subs not used: Taylor, Milner, Wright-Phillips, Jo.

West Ham (L0-3 v Chelsea, a): Green, Jacobsen, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Bridge, Noble (Keane 59), Hitzlsperger, Sears (Obinna 81), Spector, Cole (Piquionne 78), Ba. Subs not used: Boffin, Tomkins, Kovac, Boa Morte.