West Ham United v Manchester City: Hammers seek winning end to campaign

Manchester City blew their chance of clinching Champions League football on Wednesday against Tottenham Hotspur so it will be interesting to see their reaction today at Upton Park. Will they come out of the blocks all guns blazing or will they treat this as no more than a friendly?

West Ham United go into the game officially knowing that their top flight status is safe but they will be keen to finish as high up the table as possible, with a 14^th place finish possible. And for many it may be their last game in a West Ham shirt so they should be looking at attacking City from the off.

The past six meetings at the Boleyn have produced just five goals with both sides recording two wins apiece. Will the Hammers end a miserable season on top or will City head back up to Eastlands with fifth place secured? One thing’s for sure, former West Ham star Craig Bellamy will not get as good a reception from the home fans as another former East End boy Carlos Tevez!

West Ham United v Manchester City; Kick Off 4pm 09 May 2010

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 1 - 3
Chris Cox : 0 - 0
Graham Enwright : 1 - 1
Sue Gardener : 2 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 2
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 1 - 2
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 2 - 2
Peter Lee : 1 - 2
Don McMahon : 0 - 2
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 1 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 1 - 4
Peter Rendle : 1 - 2
Dan Taylor : 1 - 1
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 2
Mark Williams : 1 - 1

Panel Verdict

The Panel is split between a draw and a City win.

Home: 1; Draw: 7; Away: 8; TBC: 3.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!