Zola to stand by misfiring strikers for FA Cup clash

Gianfranco Zola will keep faith with his misfiring strikers as West Ham bid to bounce back from the 2-1 defeat at Bolton by booking a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The Hammers suffered their first away defeat in eight league games at the Reebok with Carlton Cole and David di Michele missing good chances to rescue a point.

No striker has scored for West Ham since Cole and Di Michele both hit the net in the 2-0 win against Hull City last month.

But Zola is confident that the four-game barren run will end soon - hopefully starting with the FA Cup fifth round replay at Middlesbrough.

Zola said: "The lack of goals from the strikers is not a concern for me.

"It would be a concern if we were not creating the opportunities, but I am sure that my strikers will be scoring again soon.

"For me the most important thing was creating chances in open play and that is what they are doing."