MATCH PREVIEW

PUBLISHED

18:59 15th August 2013

by Steve Garland

A look at our opening Barclays Premier League opponents

LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER

City’s long wait for Barclays Premier League football will come to an end on Saturday as they take to the pitch as a top flight team for the first time in 51-years to take on West Ham United at Upton Park.

MATCH FACTS

RECENT NEWS

Stewart Downing – West Ham United completed the signing of 29-year old England International Stewart Downing on Tuesday for a reported £5 million fee from Liverpool. 

The former Middlesbrough and Aston Villa winger made 91 appearances in all competitions for the Reds in just over two years at Anfield and arrives at Upton Park looking to stake his place for England’s World Cup squad next summer.

IN-FORM PLAYER

PRE-SEASON FORM

Cardiff City:  WDLWW

4-3 W (Forest Green), 1-1 D (Cheltenham Town), 2-3 L (Brentford), 1-0 W (Chievo), 2-1 W (Athletic Club).

LAST MEETING:

2011-12 Championship Play-off semi-final second leg, Upton Park – West Ham United 3-0 Cardiff City

REFEREE – Howard Webb

Rotherham born Referee Howard Webb has refereed a number of notable matches during his career which culminated in him becoming the first person to referee the finals of the UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup in the same year.

Webb has drawn praise for his authoritative and respected approach to refereeing from football bodies, pundits, colleagues, players, and managers. City have a long record with Webb stretching back over 10 years to the 2003 play off final victory over QPR at the Millennium Stadium.