Brooking: Carrick is key

Carrick: Key

Trevor Brooking today picked the midfield battle of wits between Michael Carrick and Michael Hughes as the key to the outcome in the all-London First Division play-off clash in Cardiff 's Millennium Stadium.

Carrick, 23, survived the financial cull that followed relegation and, having missed the start of the season because of injury, has played an increasingly influential role in West Ham's bid to regain their Premiership place.

Hughes, 33, a first-team winger at West Ham when Carrick was a trainee, has been successfully converted into a midfield playmaker in Iain Dowie's resurgent Crystal Palace team.

The Northern Ireland international will be trying to use his vast experience to unnerve the younger Carrick, who will almost certainly be sold if West Ham fail to regain Premier League status.

Carrick was recovering from injury when West Ham beat Palace 3-0 at Upton Park in October during Brooking's 11-match run in charge following the dismissal of Glenn Roeder.

"Since Michael has recovered full fitness his contribution has been first class," said Brooking, now the FA's director of football development. "There's no question that he's a Premiership-quality player and whatever happens tomorrow I believe he has a big future at international level.

"Hughes pulls all the strings for Palace, much as Michael does for us. He's an old-style winger, very tricky on the ball, but he's done really well since they moved him into the middle in the playmaker role.

"Both of them will try to dictate the pattern of play and make sure that the goalscorers get the service they need."

Brooking, an influential voice in the appointment of Alan Pardew as manager, acknowledged the sound job former West Ham striker Dowie has performed as coach at Selhurst Park since taking over from Steve Kember last December.

"They've enjoyed a great run since he went there," he said. "In the autumn they were worried about relegation. Now they're one match away from the Premiership. So they're going to be as confident as us.

"That impetus is a big consideration in a one-off game like this. It's amazing really because it was Brian Deane's goal in the 89th minute at Wigan that gave them sixth place. Then they scored in the 93rd minute at Sunderland when their chance appeared to have gone.

"But it's not just good fortune. They obviously have terrific spirit and self-belief and will be very difficult to overcome. We have to match their work-rate and determination.

"I expect them to start at a terrific pace as they did against Sunderland. They will want to take the initiative."

Brooking believes that the width of the pitch will encourage both teams to attack on the flanks and here he believes West Ham have an edge in the form of Matthew Etherington.

The former Tottenham and England Under-21 winger has been voted Hammer of the Year because of the consistency of his performances.

"I hope he gets the chance to utilise his pace," said Brooking. "The chances he creates will be vital to us. He's had an excellent season and scored a great goal in the semi-finals against Ipswich.

"I think Palace will miss Julian Gray, who's suspended, but I've been impressed with young Wayne Routledge on the right. He's been involved with the England Under-17 side and I think has enormous potential. He could cause us a few problems on the flank."

But, given the right service, the single biggest threat to West Ham is expected to come from Andrew Johnson, the Nationwide's top marksman.

"He's quick and plays off Neil Shipperley, the target man," said Brooking. "They're a good blend and on a big pitch Andy will be difficult to close down for the entire 90 minutes. If we give him the time and space he'll get his moments.

"In these big one-off occasions the turning points are the chances that are either taken or missed. Neither team will have problems creating so I certainly don't expect a dull goalless game.

"But, we can't afford to make mistakes. We've got away with a few mistakes at times this season and I'm sure that Palace would agree that they have too. That's the difference between the First Division and the Premiership.

"At the top level all mistakes are invariably punished so whoever goes up is going to need a much tighter defensive unit next season. When we played Palace in October I thought they were vulnerable defensively and, although they've improved, we have the attacking quality to win the match."

For West Ham this is their most important game since May 1991 when a 1-1 draw with Charlton - played at Selhurst Park! - clinched promotion to the old First Division.

Palace last won promotion to the top flight - only for one season though - when David Hopkin's goal gave them a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United in the play-off final at Wembley in May 1997.

"For one of us tomorrow is going to be a fantastic day of triumph," said Brooking. "For the other it'll be a day of despair."

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