TEAMtalk

Cardiff v West Ham preview

Wednesday 02-May-2012 15:31

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay will select his starting line-up for the first leg clash from virtually a full-strength squad.

Four unspecified players all sustained various knocks in the last-day win at Crystal Palace that secured the Bluebirds' top-six finish, but are all expected to be back in contention for the visit of West Ham.

Striker Rudy Gestede shook off a hip injury to step off the bench in last weekend's 2-1 win and, together with fellow substitutes Robert Earnshaw and defender Darcy Blake, is pushing for a recall.

Mackay, able to choose from a settled squad in recent weeks, is expected to opt for Don Cowie in midfield ahead of Stephen McPhail.

Cardiff, beaten only once in their last 13 matches, are bidding to reach Wembley for a second time this season, having lost on penalties to Liverpool in the Carling Cup final.

The Welsh side are also hoping to end their play-off hoodoo after losing in last season's semi-finals to Reading and in the final to Blackpool the previous year, while they were also losing FA Cup finalists to Portsmouth at Wembley in 2008.

West Ham have a fully-fit squad available.

Midfielder Gary O'Neil was a doubt after taking a whack on the ankle towards the end of Saturday's 2-1 win over Hull but he has been passed fit.

Skipper Kevin Nolan is also fine despite suffering a dead leg at the weekend and defender James Tomkins has shaken off a knock to the head.

Manager Sam Allardyce was able to take off two-goal Carlton Cole and strike partner Ricardo Vaz Te early in the second half against Hull as the news Southampton were winning made the result academic, so they are expected to start up front.

Fit-again George McCartney (concussion), a substitute on Saturday, should reclaim his left-back spot.