West Ham United manager Avram Grant has said that he wants to maintain the focus for this team despite the recent good form. The Hammers, who host the Blues in Tuesday’s first leg at 1945 GMT live on BBC Two, have been linked with a move for ex-Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce.

Grant said: “I have answered about this a thousand times. We are here because of a semi-final, a big game.

“My position is clear. I am the manager and will do my best for the club.”

The Sun newspaper has claimed that West Ham have lost faith in Grant and that the Premier League’s bottom club are set to hand a six-month contract to Allardyce, who was sacked as Blackburn manager in December.

West Ham have since been linked to Aaron Ramsey and Salomon Kalou.