Afternoon all. Well, we've reached the stage of the season where every single match has huge significance and none more so is that more accurate than this clash between West Ham United and Swansea City at Upton Park. Both sides are struggling at the wrong end of the table.

Before we go any further, the team news from Upton Park is just starting to filter through. Let's start with how the home side will begin this encounter...

WEST HAM XI: Adrian; Demel, Tomkins, Collins, McCartney; Jarvis, Taylor, Nolan, Noble, Downing; Carroll

WEST HAM SUBS: Jaaskelainen, Reid, Morrison, C Cole, Johnson, Borriello, Nocerino

Those West Ham fans that were hoping to see their new Italian duo of Antonio Nocerino and Marco Borriello make their full debuts are going to be disappointed I'm afraid - both are on the bench. Sam Allardyce has preferred to use Andy Carroll as his lone centre-forward, with a five-man midfield behind him which includes the likes Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis. Meanwhile, new signing Pablo Armero was not signed in time and misses out.

And now for the away side...

SWANSEA XI: Tremmel; Tiendalli, Chico, Williams, Davies; Amat, De Guzman, Shelvey, Dyer, Routledge; Bony

SWANSEA SUBS: Cornell, Rangel, Britton, Pozuelo, Lamah, Hernandez, Ngog

There's also no debut where Swansea concerned, with David Ngog only named as a substitute. There are other three signings have not been included. On the pitch, Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer will feature either side of lone striker Wilfried Bony, while Jordi Amat will continue in a midfield role alongside Jonjo Shelvey and Jonathan de Guzman.

Staying with the Swans, they may go into this clash in 11th spot, but they are just four points better off than their hosts, who are 18th - that's how tight it is down the bottom of the Premier League right now and that is why Michael Laudrup's men have to be considered as relegation candidates. A defeat today is likely to drag them right back into the mire.

This picture of the away dressing room at Upton Park shows that Swansea's new signing Ngog will wear the number 54 shirt! No idea why, it must have some relevance you would imagine.

PHOTO: The away dressing room at the Boleyn Ground. #swans pic.twitter.com/QCVsHkcStx

— Swansea City FC (@SwansOfficial) February 1, 2014

So, what of West Ham and their 19th century football?! Let's be honest, regardless of Jose Mourinho's thoughts, it was a fantastic point that the Hammers collected last time out against Chelsea. It should give them confidence going into this clash because three points would lift them out of the relegation zone until the 3pm matches get underway and maybe beyond that.

During yesterday's pre-match press conference, Allardyce sent his assistant Neil McDonald to meet the media while he tried to sign new players. Here is some of what he had to say:

"I think, if you've been to the majority of West Ham games, you can tell that we don't play like that all the time! Jose doesn't come and watch us all the time, either! We do play some really good football and we have scored the majority of our goals from open play, so I'd suggest we are not just a long-ball or defensive team.

"We have a mixture and football is all about getting results, and it doesn't matter how you get them. At times, you have to be route-one and sometimes you have to be expansive. We have a decent balance between those styles.

"There are lots of things we need to improve on this season - attacking, scoring more goals and trying to keep more clean sheets - but we have kept ten clean sheets this season and we just need to score more goals."

Swansea manager Laudrup has also been discussing West Ham's performance at Chelsea. It's fair to say that the Dane was full of praise:

"Every game is different, you have to play the way you think is best for your team in each particular game. West Ham did that, they were very brave. Yes, they defended inside their own box a lot but they got a point at Chelsea, where under Mourinho they have not lost in I don't know how long. We tried a different way up there and we lost so you could say West Ham did better than us."

Laudrup has also been discussing today's clash with BT Sport: "I expect a really tough game for us. We've had a lot of injuries so it was important to get players back. Every point is very important, especially those against the teams around us."

Meanwhile, Allardyce has called upon his players to claim a vital victory today. Again talking to BT Sport, here's what he had to say: "I'm hoping for a winning performance. Other players are coming back and the squad is looking healthier. Ten clean sheets this year suggests we should have done much better so let's hope we can score some goals today. Where we are now is not where we want to be."

Right, the players have started to filter into the tunnel. Not long now until we get underway at Upton Park.

KICKOFF! Here we go then. Hosting West Ham, attacking from left to right in the first half, get this important Premier League encounter started.

Early pressure from Swansea as Routledge and Dwight Tiendalli swing in crosses from either flank. West Ham's defending is by no means composed and there is an element of panic about it, but they eventually clear and the danger passes.

First sign of West Ham's major strength as Jarvis gets forward and sends over a cross from the right. Carroll has got a run on Swansea defender Chico Flores, but the West Ham striker fails to make a clean contact with his header and the ball sails wide of the target.

A decent opening for Swansea goes begging as Dyer is released through the middle. He waits for support on the edge of the area and sends a square pass for Bony, who has options to his left. His pass is wayward, though, and West Ham are able to clear with relative ease.

In truth, there is very little happening right now. There is a real lack of quality about both teams in the final third of the pitch. There are of course players out there capable of producing much more, so hopefully they will find their feet soon.

ELSEWHERE! Bad news for these two teams elsewhere as Sunderland take the lead away at rivals Newcastle United courtesy of Fabio Borini from the penalty spot. The Black Cats started the day in 17th, but will move up towards the halfway point if they hold out for three points at St James' Park.

What we'd give to have a goal here - a shot would do! It's been a very poor opening to this encounter, summed up by Tiendalli, who saw his intended 10-yard pass to Dyer roll straight out of play as the winger made a run down the flank.

ELSEWHERE! It's now 2-0 to Sunderland as Adam Johnson continues his recent positive form. If they do go on to win, Gus Poyet's team will be six points clear of West Ham and level with Swansea.

That, in a nutshell, sums up West Ham's major tactic. The ball is hoisted up into the area and in the direction of Carroll, who nods the ball down for Nolan on the edge of the area. The skipper controls the ball with his midriff, before sending a left-footed volley into the bottom corner of Gerhard Tremmel's net. It's just his third goal of the season, but what an important one it could prove to be.

CHANCE! Big opportunity for West Ham as Noble sends a perfectly weighted pass for Jarvis down the blindside of Swansea defender Ben Davies. From there, the West Ham winger sends over a dangerous cross, but neither Carroll nor Downing are able to make any contract from close range. Moments later, Noble goes into Howard Webb's book for a late challenge on Bony.

What a fantastic challenge from West Ham defender James Tomkins, who has just saved his side an almost certain goal. A ball over the top releases Bony, who leaves Tomkins trailing in his wake. However, the centre-back manages to make up the ground and coming from the side, he whips the ball away from the Swansea frontman as he's just about to pull the trigger 12 yards from goal. Had he got that wrong, it would have been a penalty and a red card.

CHANCE! Following some pinball in the West Ham box, the ball bounces up invitingly for Swansea City back Ashley Williams. It's fair to say that he's not the player that you want in that position, though, and he proves that point to be correct by firing way over the crossbar. Unsurprisingly, the Welsh international has not scored since September 2011.

Two for Nolan, two for West Ham and that might just be game over. Downing swings over a corner from the right towards the back post for Carroll, who for some unknown reason is unmarked! He heads the ball across for Nolan, who flicks an effort into the bottom corner from six yards out. That is truly awful defending from the away team and what a time to concede a second goal.

For the first time in a long time West Ham have been able to utilise the understanding that exits between Nolan and Carroll and they are reaping the rewards. Swansea cannot deal with Carroll's threat in the air and Nolan is taking full advantage by picking up the knock downs in the little pockets of space that he is taking up. It's a very happy Upton Park at the break, which hasn't been the case for most of the season.

Bold statement from former England, Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore:

Thats why Carroll WILL go to the World Cup if he avoids injury. A completely different challenge for defenders. — Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) February 1, 2014

As for Swansea, to be frank, they haven't done much right during the 45 minutes. Even their usual slick passing has abandoned them. Where Carroll is concerned they've been soft and have given him so much freedom. It's got to be down to either Williams or Chico Flores (or even both) to put up more of a fight against the West Ham frontman, because as it stands he is taking the game away from them.

What can Laudrup change? Well, the passing needs to improve and the introduction of Leon Britton would help with that. Otherwise, perhaps the pace of Pablo Hernandez might make a difference. But it's how they deal with Carroll first and foremost. If they don't improve defensively, they've got no chance of getting back into this game.

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! The players are back on the pitch and Swansea have restarted proceedings. It's a tad cliche, but the next goal here is very important.

CHANCE! Great start by West Ham, who go ever so close to adding a third goal. Jarvis goes round Tremmel, but with a narrowing angle, he attempts to pick out the hat-trick hunting Nolan inside the area. It appears that he has tap-in, but Davies retreats at the final second to hack clear the danger.

Better signs from Swansea as they defend a West Ham corner well, before going on to move up the other end of the pitch with great speed. The attack ends when Routledge's shot from the edge of the area is blocked, but it's perhaps a sign nonetheless that there is more tempo about the visitors.

CHANCES! Another attack from Swansea as they start to pile on some pressure. Collins gets in the way of Shelvey's shot and then Taylor throws himself in front of De Guzman's effort. That's the sort of defending that West Ham produced at Chelsea on Wednesday night, but again, there is more urgency about Laudrup's team.

Well, that's put the cat among the pigeons. For the first time today Flores stands up to Carroll as the pair tussle for possession. It ends with Carroll swinging out an arm as he twists around, which catches the Swansea defender on the top of the head. Flores hits the floor somewhat dramatically and it prompts Webb to brandish a red card to the West Ham striker, who will now be banned for three matches.

SUBSTITUTION: Perhaps smelling blood after the red card, Laudrup has taken off the defence-minded Amat and brings on attacking midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo.

SUBSTITUTION: Now it's Allardyce's turn to make an alteration and to be fair he's keen to keep a striker on the pitch, despite the fact that his team are depleted. On comes Carlton Cole, while Jarvis is the player that is sacrificed.

Every time Flores inherits possession, he's roundly jeered by the home fans. You can understand their frustration to a degree because he's supposed to be a tough-tackling centre-back, but he went down following that clash with Carroll as if he'd been shot by a sniper.

SUBSTITUTION: A second change for Swansea, although on this occasion it's a forced one. Shelvey has picked up a knock and cannot continue, so he's been replaced by Spanish winger Hernandez.

So far, West Ham have defended well with their numerical disadvantage. They've gone narrow and are keeping things extremely tight. It's not exactly pretty, but it's what needed given the circumstances.

SUBSTITUTION: Final swap for Swansea and it brings with it a debut for Ngog, who signed from Bolton Wanderers on a loan basis during the week. He's taken the place of Dyer.

SUBSTITUTION: Another alteration for West Ham and their fans are delighted to see that Winston Reid is back in action following a spell on the sidelines since November with an ankle complaint. The New Zealand international receives a big cheer as he comes on in place of Taylor.

West Ham deserve credit because they are defending well, but it's got to be said that Swansea have been very wasteful in the final third of the pitch. They seem to be lacking in invention, which is making it easy for the West Ham defenders to clear any danger.

SUBSTITUTION: It's a home debut for Nocerino, who receives a big round of applause from his new supporters. He's replaced two-goal hero Nolan.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time at the end of this clash.

They will be disappointed with the red card that Carroll received, but more importantly West Ham have collected three points that has lifted them out of the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Swansea have been dragged back into trouble.

That's all we have time for from Upton Park. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.