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West Ham United vs Manchester United: Match Preview

After what probably was the first impressive performance from Manchester United this season against Blackburn, the clubs fringe and young players will get a chance to propel themselves into the limelight when they visit Upton Park tonight to play West Ham in the Carling Cup quarter-final.

As normal for the Carling Cup it will be all change for United, Tomasz Kuszczak or Ben Amos will start in goal.

Wes Brown looks likely to captain a defence that will contain Chris Smalling whose reputation should further be enhanced against West Ham. He is likely to be partnered by Jonny Evans who is looking to up his level of performance, as it has been disappointing of late. Fabio will replace Patrice Evra at left back.

With Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and Owen Hargreaves unavailable through injury, Darron Gibson will be pushing for a starting place while upfront a pairing of Javier Hernandez and Federico Macheda is expected.

After making the bench on Saturday Ryan Giggs should make the first eleven along with Gabriel Obertan who has been in decent form over the past few weeks.

West Ham ‘saved their season’ at the weekend with a victory over Wigan but Avram Grant never relishes a tie against United after being defeated in his first match in charge of Chelsea and in the 2008 Champions League final with the same club.

The hosts do have defender Lars Jacobsen as he played for Blackburn earlier on in the competition and is thus cup-tied. Scott Parker could be rested as he played at the weekend with a chest infection. Meanwhile, Danny Gabbidon, Frederic Piquionne and Valon Behrami are all doubts after picking up knocks at the weekend.

Going into the game United have won their last six meetings with West Ham and have kept five consecutive clean sheets against the Hammers.

Last time the two teams met in the League Cup, back in 1985 Norman Whiteside’s goal gave United a 1-0 third-round victory.

United though will have to negotiate fortress Upton Park as West Ham have gone five games undefeated at home, but if United managed they would be making their 13th appearance in the semi-finals of the competition.

Prediction: 3-1 United
Probable Line-up: Amos; Brown, Smalling, Evans, Fabio; Obertan, Anderson, Gibson, Giggs, Hernandez; Macheda.

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