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MIDDLESBROUGH v WEST HAM TEAM NEWS
This is the 50th league meeting between Middlesbrough and West Ham and Steve McClaren will definitely make changes to the team today.
Brad Jones will definitely play in goal as Mark Schwarzer's foot requires more rest. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and/or Mark Viduka may possibly feature as Boro will start with a 4-4-2 formation but Malcolm Christie and Yakubu seems to be the likeliest pairing.
Boro have dropped only two points from a possible thirty in home Premiership games with the Hammers. The draw was on 7th December 2002 in the most recent meeting at the Riverside when the teams shared four goals. An 88th minute equaliser from Ugo Ehiogu saved Boro's blushes that day. West Ham's manager at the time was Glenn Roeder.
Today's game is the first in the West Ham - Steaua - West Ham - Steaua sequence that will redefine the history of Middlesbrough Football Club.
The Hammers are favourites for this match as they have an excellent chance of qualifying for Europe through the league and are expected to field a close to full strength side.
But Anton Ferdinand is out and is also a doubt for next weekend's FA Cup semi-final, along with Matthew Etherington. Jimmy Walker could keep his place in goal after an impressive display against Manchester City.
Paul Konchesky is the only Hammers outfield player to have begun every game and not been substituted this season, while Teddy Sheringham will become the first player aged over 40 to score in the Premiership if he finds the net this afternoon.
Today's referee is Martin Atkinson, of Leeds who was in charge of Boro's early season game at White Hart Lane and again on New Year's Eve for the Boro v Manchester City match.
ComeOnBoro.com Team Prediction by Briggsy
........................... Jones
...... Ehiogu...... Southgate...... Bates
..Parnaby ......................................... Taylor
.......... Kennedy..... Doriva.... Johnson
...................... Christie...... Viduka
Middlesbrough Squad: Jones, Knight, Parnaby, Ehiogu, Bates, Davies, Southgate, Taylor, Queudrue, Rochemback, Doriva, Kennedy, Johnson, Morrison, Downing, Hasselbaink, Viduka, Yakubu, Maccarone, Cattermole, Christie, Morrison, Wheater
West Ham Squad: Hislop, Scaloni, Gabbidon, Collins, Konchesky, Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Mullins, Etherington, Ashton, Harewood, Walker, Scaloni, Fletcher, Sheringham, Zamora, Katan, Clarke, Ward, Newton
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