Time to bring on Gretzky?

It's all gone a bit bonkers at the Icey-had stadium as incessant snow has changed the game into an ice hockey match!

It's bordering on farcical as the ball is stopping in the depths of snow! 

None of which has bothered Moyes' men who are holding firm against Man City and can feel unlucky to be 1-0 down at the break.

You'd wonder whether this is a game suited to Coufal and Kral - the latter a veteran of Russian league footie.

The Hammers will look to keep it tight and hope to take one the the decent number of chances they are creating. 

Wayne Gretzky may not be available but surely the ref needs to find an orange ball for the second half!

COYI!

And then there were eight....Benny Buries Citeh as Hammers March on!

Wowzer! Man City came with intent fielding a strong side for tonights game at the London Stadium but a second string Hammers side stuck to their guns and held out for a 0-0 draw. The penalty shoot was coolly handled by the Hammers with Mark Noble leading the way until Said Benrahma slotted the winner. 

Special mention for Alphonse Areola who pulled off some crucial saves in the first half, as well as Issa Diop who was a rock in defence. Ben Johnson looked like a seasoned pro and in no way struggled against a tricky City attack while Arthur Masuaku raised our spirits with some typical King Arthur dribbling antics. 

Captain Mark Noble seemed to tear up as he left the field - and why not as a true legend he gave it everything and almost scored a stunner in the first half!

The draw for the quarter finals is on Saturday next at 10:30am and will be live on Sky Sports and the official Carabao Cup Twitter page. The remaining eight clubs are; Arsenal, Chelsea, Sunderland, Tottenham, Leicester City, Liverpool, Brentford and West Ham. Ties will be played on the week commencing December 20.

Final thoughts for Said Benrahma - it takes guts to step up for the final penalty and he was cool out!

COYI!!!

Gay Abandon in the Bobby Moore Stand!

We've had a hellish time over the last 18 months but during all the awfulness, the Hammers have given us reason to smile.

And there's nothing better for West ham fans than than beating Spurs to bring a massive smiley to our faces.

Enjoy the delight in the Bobby Moore stand today as fans brought us back to the Boleyn!

Happy, happy days!

COYI!!!

Player Ratings as Hammers Nail Hapless Spurs

It was all too easy for the Hammers this afternoon as a Spurs side lacking in ambition and craft were overpowered by a patient West ham performance. Mikey Antonio popped up with the winner in the 73rd minute to top off a performance in which Spurs were gifted lots of pointless possession while the Hammers had all the shots on target.

Here's our player ratings:

Fabianski : In truth he'll be shocked to have had so little to do but he made a few important first half saves look easy and finished off with a bossy catch from a hopeful Spurs punt into the Hammers box. 8/10

Johnson: 9/10. His best Hammers performance to date. Showed good decision making in defence and much more involved going forward. MoTM!

Zouma: Immense. As he said in midweek, Kane is a picnic when you train with Antonio every day! 8.5/10.

Ogbonna: So calm, really good partnership with Zouma. 7/10.

Cresswell: Superb again. When we finally got a corner he send in a beauty. Tenacious in defence. 8.5/10

Soucek: Having no luck with grabbing a goal but they will come again. Big presence in a midfield that gave Spurs no oxygen at all. 8/10.

Rice (C): He really is a big big player for us and what an engine. Leads by example. 8.5/10.

Bowen: What a nightmare to play against! Constantly pushing for a break and has developed into a clever head when he gets the ball. Not getting k ocked off the ball like he used to. 8/10.

Benrahma: Not his best day but almost got in a few times. 7/10.

Fornals: Sooo intelligent on the ball and a really buzzybee in defence. The movement and cohesion between Pablo, Jarrod and Said is a joy to watch. 8.5/10

 Antonio: He's the man! Silenced the noisy Spurs fans who suggested he couldn't lace Sir Harry's boots. Ha ha! Took his goal with calm assurance. 9/10.

Big Test for Johnson as Moyes Sticks with winning formula

It's the big one as Tottie Hotspuds make their short trip to Stratford to face David Moyes' in form Hammers. Moyes has gone with the same starting eleven that overcame Everton last week. 

Unusually, West ham are the more consistent side having thrived under the Moyes system while Spurs are hot and cold so far this season. Moyes started Rice, Soucek and Bowen on Thursday while Santos rested his key men - the final quarter may swing on those choices but the Hammers will be hoping to be on top by then.

Rory Nostradamus is predicting a 3-2 home win!

West Ham Starting XI: Fabianski; Johnson, Zouma, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice (C); Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals; Antonio. 

Subs: Areola, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku, Ashby, Noble, Lanzini, Vlasic, Yarmolenko. 

Time to shine for Hammers B-team

It's another fun night of European footy for the Hammers as Genk arrive hoping to halt Moyes' mens' march. 

The side is pretty predictable apart from the absence of Mark Noble who is still catching up on fitness but does make the bench.

Zouma and Oggy are rested, with Diop and Dawson getting some valuable game time, while up front it'll be interesting to see how Yarmolenko, Vlasic and Lanzini link up with Jarrod Bowen - will it be Bowen or Yarmo or Vlasic that leads the line?

Michail Antonio gets a well deserved night off and is not even on the subs bench.

Tomas Soucek is playing with his latest war wounds, while the indefatiguable Declan Rice partners him in midfield. 

West Ham confirmed starting XI:  Areola, Johnson, Dawson, Diop, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Yarmolenko, Vlasic, Lanzini, Antonio.

Moyes Keeps it Predictable with Starting XI

Two Young Hammers Ready to Rock!

On paper this game looks like  cracker! Two strong attacking sides who are playing fearless football and like to go toe to toe with their opposition. We can look forward to an open and free-flowing game at the London Stadium!

Can Zouma and Oggy clamp Toney and Co.?, will the Hammers be able to boss midfield and frustrate a very fluid Brentford unit?, can Brentford's leaky defence cope with the counterattacking precision of Moyes' men? 

These two sides probably have the happiest squads in the league right now with the positivity at West ham flowing through the players and fans.

Rory Nostradamus has predicted a 4-3 thriller with Ex-Brentford assassin Said Benrahma to continue his scoring spree with the deciding goal. 

Happy days - this will be a drama to savour!

WEST HAM STARTING XI: Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell, Kurt Zouma, Angelo Ogbonna, Declan Rice(C), Tomas Soucek, Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals, Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio