Against Hall odds

Robert Hall could be set for a place on the bench tonight as Sam Allardyce pitches his team against basement boys Bristol City.

The young striker was recalled from a loan spell with Oxford United to cover for injuries and is hotly tipped to be included in Allardyce's 16-man squad, to be named later this afternoon.

18-year-old Hall, who has represented his country at all youth international levels was a big hit with the League Two club for whom he scored six goals in just eight starts.

His initial month-long loan spell with the Us ran until the beginning of October when the two clubs agreed to extend the loan for a further month.

However that was cut short at the weekend when Sam Allardyce requested that Hall return in order to act as cover for the injured Carlton Cole and out-of-form Frederic Piquionne.

Allardyce, looking ahead to tonight's game insisted that the 22 league places between his team and this evening's opponents would not be an excuse for his side to take their foot off the gas following wins against Brighton and Leicester, both of whom were tipped to challenge for promotion this season.

"We are going to have to get the players up for it and make sure we deliver the type of performances we have been given to win it," he said. "Anything less than that in any of these games and you know anyone can beat anybody."

"Bristol City will take a great deal of confidence from having a new manager. We enjoyed Saturday night but we woke up on Sunday focused. Being expected to be winners every week brings a pressure in itself and that is what they are going to have to cope with."

Also included in the provisional match day squad is fellow Academy player George Moncur. The son of former Hammer John was last named in Sam Allaryce's 16-man match squad at Brighton last week.