Kidderminster vs West Ham news: Weary Irons should avoid giant-killing...just

Kidderminster players celebrate after knocking Reading out the FA Cup

West Ham are no strangers to a televised cup upset, or just a normal cup upset, and the TV schedulers will be hoping for more of the same in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off against Kidderminster.

Grimsby, Newport, Wrexham, Luton and Tranmere are just a small handful of the long list of so-called smaller teams that have extinguished West Ham's cup dreams over the years.

However, the current West Ham side is a very different outfit compared to the team who were dumped out the cup by Torquay in 1990. But every supporter would still happily take Julian Dicks, Alvin Martin and Ian Bishop from that team…blimey they'd even give Trevor Morley a run out considering West Ham's lack of striking options in 2022.

But before you presume this clash is the proverbial walk in the park, West Ham have been cup croppers in recent years too; Wigan (Jan '18), Wimbledon (Jan '19) and West Brom (Jan '20).

Kidderminster's best cup run came in 1994, and that's were it gets a bit spooky.

In the third round they knocked out Birmingham City, who at the time were owned by current West Ham big cheeses David Gold and David Sullivan. Then the Harriers went on to dump out Preston, a team which included David Moyes.

The Harriers were eventually knocked out in the fifth round by...West Ham...but only just.

When: Saturday, February 5, 12:30 GMT

Where: Aggborough Stadium, Kidderminster

How to watch: BBC One

Follow Kidderminster vs West Ham via our live centre

Who is the ref for Kidderminster vs West Ham

Jonathan Moss swaps the posh Molton Brown soap dispensers of the Premier League changing rooms for the orange perched on a towel, balanced on a rickety bench of the non-league. That's what they do in non-league isn't it?

Moss last officiated a Kidderminster game in the third round of the FA Cup back in 2014, a 0-0 draw with Peterborough. The Harriers went on to win the replay.

His previous West Ham game came in that questionable last-minute defeat to Manchester United a few weeks ago, so Irons supporters will be truly delighted to see him again.

Bristol City's 1-0 extra-time defeat to Fulham, in the third round, has been the only FA Cup game Moss has reffed this season.

Recent form

Kidderminster are unbeaten in their last ten home games and sit third in National League North. They lost just two games across December and January, and have suffered only four league defeats all season.

A poor Reading side underestimated Kidderminster in the third round, and Kiddy will be brimming with confidence ahead of the clash with an out-of-sorts West Ham.

The Hammers come into the match off the back of two defeats to Manchester United and Leeds United, in games where they looked leggy and offered none of their usual vim and vigour. Not really a surprise considering the amount of games the side has played during December and January.

The break will have helped a few knackered first team players rest up, but that late Marcus Rashford winner in their last game will still sting.

Kidderminster vs West Ham players in form

Keep an eye on Kidderminster's Omari Sterling. The St Kitts & Nevis international is the club's deadball specialist and has seven goals in 23 league games this season. His last goal coming from a free-kick against Leamington on Tuesday night.

It's getting boring now but this is the Declan Rice part of the preview. He rarely puts a foot wrong and is the only player who is currently turning up week in, week out. But let's have a look at Armstrong Oko-Flex instead.

The young Irish winger might get a game against Kidderminster after impressing for the U-23s and has 11 goals in 16 games this season, including four in his last four. West Ham fans would rather see him than Yarmolenko predictably cutting in on his left foot every time he gets the ball.

☄️? https://t.co/WoWwPduwrE pic.twitter.com/6aj8g2PDxr
— Omari Sterling (@OSterling19) January 23, 2022

Last meeting

Kidderminster 0-1 West Ham (February 19, 1994)

A Lee Chapman far post looping header, from a Keith Rowland cross, settled the tie in the second half in what was a tough game for the Premier League side.

The Harriers had several good chances and a strong appeal for a penalty turned down. I haven't got the time or space to write down what West Ham fans think of Lee Chapman.

West Ham's coach broke down on the way to Worcestershire, and the players had to get out and push.

Managers' thoughts

Kidderminster manager Russ Penn: "What we don't want is to be embarrassed, that's a big thing for me.

"On the flipside, can we turn it into a positive and have a real good game? Can we start well, because all of a sudden as the minutes tick by the confidence around the whole place starts to lift. That is how you have to approach it."

West Ham manager David Moyes: "Obviously the surroundings at Aggborough Stadium are not as big, the pitch will probably not be in as good a condition as you’d expect of a Premier League pitch, but everybody’s been brought up as footballers.

"We all started at a level, and you have to show that if you have to play at that level, you can perform."

Predicted KIdderminster vs West Ham teams

Kidderminster centre-back Nathan Cameron should start after missing five games in January through injury. He scored in the midweek win over Leamington.

Keziah Martin will have a late fitness test after a recent knock, and Ethan Freemantle could miss out due to a hamstring injury.

Geraldo Bajrami, Mark Carrington and Ashley Hemmings were named as substitutes in midweek but should all start after their heroics against Reading.

West Ham will take the opportunity to rest some first team players for this clash and are expected to blood some younger members of the academy.

Michail Antonio is unlikely to play after returning from international duty with Jamaica on Friday morning, while Said Benrahma is back from the Africa Cup of Nations. Mark Noble should lead the side if Declan Rice is rested.

Predicted Kidderminster line-up: Simpson, Penny, Cameron, Bajrami, Richards, Martin, Carrington, Hemmings, Austin, Sterling, Morgan-Smith

Predicted West Ham line-up: Areola, Fredericks, Diop, Dawson, Johnson, Noble, Soucek, Vlasic, Yarmolenko, Benrahma, Bowen

Kidderminster vs West Ham prediction

A West Ham side bursting with youngsters, and being led by the rarely used Andriy Yarmolenko might struggle to break down a confident Kidderminster side. But David Moyes is a pragmatist and not one for sweeping changes, he doesn't have many players for a start.

If West Ham get an early goal, then there could be a bottom smacking on the cards. If they don't, then Kidderminster could serve up a late shock.