Sam Allardyce’s return to Upton Park provides the human interest but the warmth of reception he receives will not change the stakes being fought for. West Ham have a habit of dropping points when the Champions League places move into view but victory here might exert some pressure on those above; Allardyce’s Sunderland, on the other hand can take encouragement from an improved run of February performances and the manager’s face will be a picture if his side have earned three vital points to aid their relegation fight. Nick Ames
Kick-off Saturday 12.45pm
Venue Upton Park
Last season West Ham 1 Sunderland 0
Live BT Sport 1
Referee M Dean
This season G21, Y73, R6, 3.76 cards per game
Odds H 13-15 A 15-4 D 3-1
West Ham Utd
Subs from Randolph, Howes, Oxford, Parfitt-Williams, Song, Browne, Lanzini, Pike, Carroll, Reid, Byram
Doubtful Carroll (groin), Reid (hamstring)
Injured Sakho (thigh, 5 Mar), O’Brien (hamstring, Apr), Tomkins (calf, Apr), Jenkinson (knee, unknown), Valencia (ankle, unknown)
Suspended None
Form WLDWLD
Discipline Y36 R4
Leading scorer Payet 7
Sunderland
Subs from Pickford, Brown, Beadling, Kaboul, Jones, Rodwell, Lens, N’Doye, Toivonen, Larsson
Doubtful Jones (hip), Kaboul (ankle), Kirchhoff (hamstring), Larsson (knee)
Injured Lens (hernia, 5 Mar), Watmore (ankle, unknown)
Suspended None
Form WLDWLD
Discipline Y50 R2
Leading scorer Defoe 10
