PREMIER LEAGUE: TURF MOOR, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 6, 2010. KICK-OFF: 1500 GMTBURNLEY:
The momentum had deserted Burnley long before Owen Coyle made his way to Bolton and a 12-match winless run that stretches back to October cannot be allowed to continue.
Brian Laws's first four matches have resulted in defeats - to Manchester United, Reading, Bolton and Chelsea - but he still feels he has made plenty of progress since arriving at Turf Moor.
Laws has been quick to make additions and, as well as extending the loan deal of Portsmouth striker David Nugent, he brought in Nicky Weaver, Leon Cort, Daniel Fox, Jack Cork and Frederic Nimani and feels he has added vital options.
Only three teams in the bottom half of the table have won two or more away matches so Burnley are not alone in being weak on their travels but the home victories that marked the opening weeks of the campaign have dried up.
With Portsmouth as the next visitors to Turf Moor, six points would go a long way towards keeping the Clarets in the division and the importance of the game against Gianfranco Zola's team is not lost on Laws.
He said: "West Ham is a winnable game and that's how we've got to approach every game. The players will understand this games means a lot to everybody to haul us out of that bottom three which will give everybody a lift and be a starting block for us. It's a big game for both clubs."
Strategy: Laws feels it is a key step that although they have lost each of his matches, he feels they are a far harder team to break down than they were when he first walked through the door. He will desperate to create a tempo that West Ham struggle to cope with to get that Turf Moor feeling back again.
Laws feels that the Hammers will be travelling to Lancashire hoping to avoid defeat and, although he will be keen to see his team pick up their first clean sheet since he took charge, there is no doubt he will send out a team to take charge of the match from the first whistle, with relentless pressing, quick counter attacks and solid defending from set pieces.
He added: "West Ham won't want to lose it and we want to win it. We need to get at West Ham and win the game although they won't make it easy for us. We know what's at stake."
Injury Update: Graham Alexander and Steven Caldwell are still on the sidelines with respective calf and groin problems but Chris McCann, Stephen Jordan and Christian Kalvanes are all in contention.
WEST HAM UNITED:
Zola saw his prayers answered in the January transfer window. First, the Italian wanted the club's future to be resolved, which was achieved through the takeover by former Birmingham City owners David Sullivan and David Gold.
Secondly, he wished for strikers, and then, rather like waiting an age for a London bus......you know the rest. First to arrive was South Africa striker Benni McCarthy from Blackburn. The 32-year-old is ready to resurrect his career are being bumped down the pecking order at Ewood Park.
McCarthy was quickly followed by former Tottenham striker Mido. The much-travelled striker made no secret of his desire to play in the Premier League once more, and he took a pay cut to do so. The final player to join was Brazil international Ilan, who arrived on a free transfer from Saint-Etienne. All three could feature at some stage against Burnley, as Zola looks to get them up to speed quickly.
"Ilan has trained twice and looks a good player," said Zola. "He's a sharp and skilful player. We know Benni, he is a goalscorer and I'm looking forward to seeing him score goals.
"Mido is a surprise. He's come here and is working hard and wants to prove himself. He's started with a good attitude."
Strategy: West Ham will look to fire from the off and Zola will be encouraged to do so with two attackers. Carlton Cole and McCarthy are expected to lead the line. Scott Parker is set to start in midfield after coming on as a substitute against Blackburn and much will depend on the response to his intelligent promptings.
Injury Update: Danny Gabbidon, Guillermo Franco and Kieron Dyer (all hamstring) are ruled out. Alessandro Diamanti is also out after he was replaced in the stalemate with Blackburn.
