City are happy to be underdogs at promotion favourites West Ham tonight.

Nicky Law's side come face-to-face with two of the relegated Premiership sides in the space of four days with the Upton Park clash followed by Saturday's visit from Sunderland.

But Law is relishing the immediate chance to bounce back from the first loss of the season to Gillingham.

He said: "This is a great opportunity for us. We're away from home so we can go out there as underdogs and give a good show of ourselves.

"We were disappointed on Saturday but so were West Ham to lose at Rotherham. They were apparently going to walk through the league and now they are finding out how difficult it is.

"It's a very tough division and every game is different. West Ham will come at us but that suits the way we play. We're better when teams force the play on us.

"We do struggle against teams that get behind the ball because we haven't got the kind of player that can open teams up."

Law may be tempted to start with Jason Gavin who has recovered from a pre-season thigh strain. Gavin came on as a sub on Saturday and Law has him ear-marked as David Wetherall's first-choice partner at centre half.

Paul Heckingbottom has filled in well in that role but could be shifted to left midfield to accommodate Gavin's return.

History is not on City's side. They have not won at Upton Park since 1933 although the sides have only played eight times there since.

The media spotlight will be on the East End tonight after Glenn Roeder's sacking on Sunday - with Trevor Brooking again in temporary charge.