Kidderminster v West Ham predictions: Harriers can limit damage against Hammers

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Kidderminster v West Ham in the FA Cup fourth round.

Where to watch

BBC One, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

West Ham & under 3.5 goals
1pt 6-5 BoyleSports, Coral

Team news

Kidderminster
Midfielders Joe Foulkes and Keziah Martin, out for two weeks, should be fit. Striker Ethan Fremantle is a doubt. Devonte Redmond is cup-tied.

West Ham
Michail Antonio is unlikely to be involved. Said Benrahma is back from Africa, Angelo Ogbonna remains sidelined.

Match preview

Harriers' super-fan Robert Plant reckons Kidderminster are quite capable of leaving West Ham dazed and confused in front of the BBC cameras though it's more likely the Led Zep frontman will witness the Hammers ramble on to round five.

Wolves' diehard and Kidderminster resident Plant has been at Aggborough through good times, bad times, and is convinced this will be a goodie with his adopted heroes climbing a stairway to, if not heaven, then at least to the last 16 by the final whistle.

The venerable rock god believes David Moyes' world-class superstars will be "baffled" by the size of the Kiddy pitch – it's five yards shorter and three yards narrower than the London Stadium – and certainly space will be at a premium.

And recent cup slip-ups against Oxford and AFC Wimbledon will also ensure the glitterati travelling from the capital won't be taking their hosts lightly.

But Moyes took the previous round seriously, sending out a strong side to do a job on Leeds. And even though he will definitely have one eye on Tuesday's Premier League showdown with Watford, there's a sense that this group is more than capable of ending the club's 42-year wait for a decent piece of silverware.

And let's not forget, there is a 112-place gulf between these two. Sixth-tier sides have not beaten top-flight opposition in this competition and if West Ham, who aren't any old Premier League team but are challenging for top-four honours, are anything like professional they will surely win this well. They are 1.5 to win inside 90 minutes, but take them to win in a game featuring under 3.5 goals at 10-11.

Certainly it will be competitive with space in short supply. Plant has told us that.

And Kidderminster are nothing if not well organised under boss Russ Penn, with four straight clean sheets culminating in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Leamington.

They are unbeaten at home in four months and Reading are their most celebrated victims, beaten 2-1 in the previous round courtesy of goals from playmaker Sam Austin and striker Amari Morgan-Smith.

On a negative note, they have just come through a gruelling schedule of eight games in 28 days whereas West Ham, of course, are fresh from a fortnight off.

Penn has encouraged his side to go for it but it's doubtful they'll see enough of the ball to be overly expansive and anyway, their best approach would be to frustrate the Premier League outfit.

It appears Michail Antonio won't play and that means a lighter look to the Hammers' frontline which could add to the sense this won't be a goal feast.

Key stat

David Moyes's sides have kept clean sheets in all five FA Cup ties played against non-league opponents.

Inside info

Kidderminster

Penalty taker Ashley Hemmings
Free-kick wizard Omari Sterling-James
Set-piece aerial threat Nathan Cameron
Card magnet Amari Morgan-Smith

West Ham

Penalty taker Manuel Lanzini or Mark Noble
Free-kick wizardManuel Lanzini or Pablo Fornals
Set-piece aerial threatKurt Zouma
Card magnetDeclan Rice

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