It is not often West Ham United have been described as ‘massive favourites’ for any game this season. That will change on Saturday, though, when Nuno Espirito Santo’s Premier League hopefuls kick-off their FA Cup fourth-round clash at Burton Albion.
This should, in theory, be a welcome distraction from an energy-sapping survival tussle.
West Ham United remain in the relegation zone despite a sudden upturn in form; all of their hard work undone at the death in midweek when Benjamin Sesko ‘robbed’ a point for Manchester United in the 96th minute.
Opponents Burton Albion also occupy the final relegation spot, in England’s third tier.
A very good omen for Burton… 🏆 🍻
What message do you have for Nuno ahead of the FA Cup 4th round?
And home coach Gary Bowyer is keen to make every little advantage count as the Brewers look to repeat what AFC Wimbledon did in 2019. In fact, the Hammers have lost three of their last five encounters with League One opposition in the FA Cup.
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Gary Bowyer plans to make West Ham United uncomfortable against Burton Albion
While Nuno weighs up how many changes he should make to his starting XI – Alphonse Areola will start over Mads Hermansen but that is the only confirmed alteration at this stage – Bowyer plans to make the London giants sweat.
Both literally and metaphorically.
“We’ll probably turn up all the radiators as well in their dressing room and that sort of thing!,” the former Bradford and Blackburn Rovers manager smiled during his press conference. “We don’t provide [weighted] ‘kicking balls’ anymore, but they would have been heavier!
“We know the challenge that lies ahead. The FA Cup is special and it’s special for a reason in these early rounds.
“I can’t wait. Brilliant. It’s exciting for everybody. Coming in on Tuesday, straight away you could tell – 100 per cent you could tell – it was completely different. A different feel, the energy, and not just in the players; staff, support staff, everybody.
“It’s a really exciting weekend ahead because you’re welcoming Premier League opposition.”
Macclesfield Town, knocking out the holders Crystal Palace in round three, is certainly an example Burton will be looking to follow. Then-Palace skipper Marc Guehi made the mistake of admitting he was not comfortable with the state of a non-league pitch before what was statistically – in terms of their places in the pyramid – the biggest shock in FA Cup history.
Burton, it is fair to say, will not be planning to make their pampered Premier League visitors comfortable on Saturday.
“It’s been a wonderful effort from everybody involved. I was speaking with Robbo [the groundsman] this morning about the condition of the pitch and what sort of state it’ll be in, but we’ve got to make everything to our advantage that we possibly can,” adds Bowyer.
“If the pitch is not great, then hopefully that might just give us a little bit of help. Already we’ve seen this season with Macclesfield, what a wonderful achievement that one was.
“We’ve worked on what we feel we’re going to have to do. We know that we’re going to have to suffer together. But we believe we have something that we can exploit and take advantage of on the day.
“The FA Cup is about creating memories. I could sit here and tell you my memories of the Cup, but the challenge to the players is to go and create their own. They can create a memory by saying, ‘I played against West Ham’, but what we’ve said to them is, ‘go and make it a bit more than that’.”
What do YOU want to see in the FA Cup fourth round? 🏆
Or, 'who' do you want to see?
When asked by Hammers News, our Talking Points readers said Nuno should consider starting Keiber Lamadrid and Mohamadou Kante. Teenage defender Ezra Mayers could feature too, having been included in the XI for the 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers last month.
January signing Adama Traore may make his full West Ham debut with Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville among those who could be rested.
“They’re a wonderful team with a wonderful manager,” says Bowyer, a self-proclaimed Nottingham Forest supporter.
“I’m obviously aware of what [Nuno] did for Forest, getting them into Europe. I’m hopeful that after the Manchester United game, he sent Bowen, [Tomas] Soucek, and about nine others to Dubai for some warm-weather training and left them there for the weekend!
“But if he hasn’t, it’s poor man-management from his side!
“They are a wonderful squad with wonderful talent. Their academy produces unbelievable players, as we’ve seen throughout the years. So even if he does decide to rest a few, we know that the level of replacement is going to be sky-high as well.”
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