MATCH PREVIEW

Last updated : 13 May 2007 By Editor

BBC team news:

Manchester United are expected to name a strong side against relegation-threatened West Ham.

The Premiership champions are likely to name either Cristiano Ronaldo or Wayne Rooney on the bench, with Alan Smith given a chance to impress.

West Ham star Carlos Tevez could be playing his final game for the club as his future remains in doubt.

Luis Boa Morte is set to continue on the left of midfield for the Hammers, who know a point would keep them up.

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Evra, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Scholes, Eagles, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Smith, Solskjaer, Dong.

West Ham (from): Green, Neill, Collins, Ferdinand, McCartney, Benayoun, Reo-Coker, Noble, Boa Morte, Zamora, Tevez, Carroll, Dailly, Spector, Davenport, Konchesky, Mullins, Bowyer, Etherington, Cole, Harewood, Blanco, Sheringham.


PA team news:

Sir Alex Ferguson may opt to keep a few key men in reserve as United complete their campaign against the Hammers.

Although Ferguson has vowed to try to beat Alan Curbishley's side, who need a point at Old Trafford to preserve their top-flight status, the United boss has indicated either Cristiano Ronaldo or Wayne Rooney could start on the bench.

With Gary Neville (ankle) and Louis Saha (knee) virtually out of contention for next week's FA Cup final, places at the 'new' Wembley showpiece are up for grabs, with Alan Smith and Wes Brown in particular hoping to impress.

Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Evra, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Scholes, Eagles, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Smith, Solskjaer, Dong.


Ferguson:

"Sometimes these occasions can turn into a damp squib.

"We want to make it a good day and get the right result. It's the last league game of the season in front of 76,000 fans, so we want to try and make it a good day for ourselves.

"It is not easy to play a side who are fighting for survival. You can understand the emotions of everyone involved, from West Ham, Sheffield United and Wigan.

"I may rest one or two but I will play a strong side because we want to represent ourselves in the proper way and be fair to everyone."

On Tevez:

"Tevez is the one who has lifted their game a bit. He has scored a couple of really good free-kicks and seems to have a lot of enthusiasm for it."


Curbishley:

"I'm looking at the players I've got and I'm thinking that if we get through this weekend, I've got a squad I can work with, and a squad I think has got an oppor-tunity to start pushing top 10, looking upwards instead of looking at what's behind us."

Talking about politics at the bottom:

"Sheffield United have to play as if they need to stay up. If not, they may find it turn on them.

"That happened a couple of years ago. Crystal Palace were six minutes from staying up and suddenly went down.

"In all the West Ham ballyhoo, Liverpool's teamsheet last weekend has gone unnoticed. [Wigan manager] Paul Jewell was the only one who was vocal about it.

"But I'm sure that when we get to Old Trafford, there will be a lot of familiar names on that teamsheet. Alex has come out and said that he has got to respect the league."


BBC Weather:

They say it will be cloudy up to the kick off but will then rain during the game. 14°C.