West Ham United will look to book their place in the Europa Conference League’s Round of 16 when they host Danish side Silkeborg.
The Hammers secured their place in the knockout rounds with a 2-1 win over Anderlecht a fortnight ago but will bypass the play-off knockout rounds should they avoid defeat on Thursday morning.
West Ham have already sealed qualification following four wins out of four in the competition’s group stages, having also beaten fellow Danish side Viborg over two legs to qualify for the group stages back in August.
READ MORE: West Ham receive Nayef Aguerd boost but fresh concern ahead of Silkeborg and Man United clashes
Irons boss David Moyes will be without winger Maxwel Cornet (calf), midfielder Lucas Paqueta (collarbone), and centre-back Craig Dawson (leg) to face Kent Nielsen’s side due to injury.
However, after an absence of more than three months, £30million summer signing and Moroccan international Nayef Aguerd is set to be involved following an ankle injury that has so far prevented him from making his official debut in claret and blue.
football.london is at tonight's 8pm match at the London Stadium. Follow the live blog for all of the latest team news, pre-match build-up, score updates, thoughts, and analysis from the home of the Hammers.
Key Events
Coufal's cross
Got forward well and hung it up in the box but it missed Scamacca. Soucek now booked for a late challenge.
Scamacca heads over
Emerson whipped the corner in and Scamacca met it, steering over the bar.
Areola does enough
Silkeborg counter and almost get a goal through Adamsen. Areola did just enough to push it away though.
Emerson gets forward
West Ham win back to back corners, first as a result of Emerson getting forward. First one led to a Benrahma shot that was close but blocked.
Areola again
Tengstedt gets down the left and gets a shot off on goal. Areola forced to dive and does well to tip it over before punching at the resulting corner. Silkeborg growing into it.
Areola saves
Silkeborg get a chane as Klynge goes for goal from range. Struck well and on target but Areola had it covered.
Second half
Pablo Fornals with a big chance minutes into this second half with a high interception. No idea how he's not found the target when it seemed easier too.
Half-time ratings
Alphonse Areola - 6
Vladimir Coufal – 7
Ben Johnson - 6
Nayef Aguerd - 7
Angelo Ogbonna - 7
Emerson - 7
Conor Coventry - 7
Manuel Lanzini - 7
Pablo Fornals - 6
Said Benrahma - 6
Michail Antonio - 7
How??
A good move starts down the right, Coufal and Benrahma exchange well, but Antonio turned his back as Benrahma passed to him, crazy really.
Another good move
Some really nice stuff. Clever from Lanzini to play a cutting pass through to Coufal, his cross found Benrahma, who could only hed across goal and wide.
Fornals header
A good move down the right that got Coufal going forward. His cross found the head of Fornals, but a big ask to him to score from there.
Solo effort
Benrahma intercepted a wide pass and then ran inside with a clever dribble. Antonio left it for him to shoot, but he put it way over.
Areola saves
Jorgensen hits one from the edge of the box. Struck well but straight at Areola.
GOAL! 1-0
Manuel Lanzini scores. A penalty into the bottom corner, Larsen went the right way but not good enough. 1-0.
Coventry goes close
A good move down the right and Benrahma pulls it back to the edge of the box, Coventry with a good couple of touches and shoots wide. Close though.
Headers galore
Headers looking like a good option. Emerson with a cross to Ogbonna, but he couldn't quite beat his man.
Aguerd chance
Short corner taken to Coufal, his cross was high and loopy and Aguerd volleyed at the back post, but into the side netting.
Good save
Aguerd started the move there. A through pass from him finds Fornals, who played Antonio in at a tough angle. He cut inside around his defender, a good shot but saved by the feet of Larsen.
Half chance
Lanzini gets a ball into the box that finds Antonio. A good header but it was loopy and lands on the top netting.
Quiet one
A pretty quiet one so far. West Ham dominating on the ball. Good noise from the away end.
Shape watch
It is the 3-4-2-1 we expected as Aguerd starts in the middle of the back three with Ogbonna and Johnson wide of him.
Johnson on right-backs
"Yes, of course," Johnson replied when asked if there is competition at right back. "I think you've got two internationals there which I'm competing with which shows the calibre of player we have in that certain position.
"Thilo is a bit like me, he's versatile and can play in all sorts of positions and you've got Vlad whose been fantastic for us ever since he signed. I wouldn't say competition is daunting or any problems between us, it's a healthy relationship and I wouldn't say we focus on whoever is playing, we just want the team to do well.
"Whoever is starting in that position we want the team to do well because it helps everyone and going forward, it helps the club. Whoever plays there, it's the manager's decision. All we can do is give 100% while out training and go from there."
Moyes' Spanish attempts
He said: “I went to Spain and I tried to take Spanish lessons and I couldn’t speak Spanish in a year. I tried my nuts off to speak Spanish, I really did, and I would have definitely been speaking it if I got another year at it.
“We’ve got an incredible team spirit. Behind the scenes here is a great team spirit. By the way, I fight them and challenge them and all of the new boys have got to join us how we want. The new boys, their characters have been really impressive to me.
“I’m maybe not one to comment on them, because I didn’t do it. Said’s [Benrahma] English for the amount of time he’s been here has not been great, but I’ve got to say, Nayef [Aguerd], brilliant English, Gianluca [Scamacca], brilliant English, Emerson [Palmieri], fantastic English.
“Strangely enough, [Lucas] Paqueta can’t speak it, but I think he understands it and he’s doing really well. I think he already speaks about three or four languages, so it might be something I hope he can pick up quickly.”
