VAR VAR, WE LOVE VAR

Ponder this - a few years back the not a penalty given by Michael Oliver would have stood and likely thing is it would be 1-1.

But it's not as VAR has alerted our esteemed referee to the fact that the ball hit Aaron Cresswell in the face.

It's an electric atmosphere out there and so far Moyes' men have been focused and super organised.

But this surely cannot last as it's wave after wave of twinkle toed Goonerism out there. 

Enjoy the half time break - try meditation, yoga, angel therapy...or just pop a Valium. 

Arsenal have had 72% possession. TBH you'd still take a point...actually you'd grab it and run...

Oo ah Benrahma! It's 1-0 to the Cockney Boys

 

Dear me, the Gooners have been running West ham ragged for 25 minutes and repeatedly come close to going ahead BUT

a sneaky West ham counter, Bowen goes down (kinda) and the normally scrooge-like Michael Oliver pointed to the spot.

Benny steps up and it's an unlikely 1-0 to the Hammers!

That's Arsenal's first conceded goal since October 23rd!

We're back and it's Gooner Time!

Not the easiest fixture to return to the action for Moyes' men but perhaps it could be a good moment to catch top of the table Gooners cold?

Moyes has a decent starting XI but is a bit light on the bench. 

The good news is that Antonio is fit but it's a shuffled CB pairing of Kehrer and Dawson. 

Arsenal are 5 points clear at the top. We are lying just above the drop zone. Our record vs the Gooners is dreadful. 

Belt up, this could be hard work. 

West Ham XI: Fabianski; Coufal, Kehrer, Dawson, Cresswell; Rice, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma; Antonio.

Subs: Areola, Coventry, Downes, Fornals, Johnson, Lanzini, Mubama, Ogbonna, Emerson.

MUBAMA: It's a devine debut for Divin!

Divin Mubama has announced his entry to the big time. After an inpressive time in the U23s he got his big chance tonight and after knocking onn the door a couple of times has scored on his debut. A Newham lad, he's been at the club sincd he was just 8 years old and now at 18 has taken his chance to make it 2-0 in Bucharest.

Otherwise, young Ollie Scales looks superimpressive at left wing back, while Flynn Downes is by far the best player on show. More game time for Aguerd who looks a class above Steau.

Happy days!

Kids to dominate in Bucharest dead rubber

The Hammers are in Bucharest tonight for the final match of their Europa Conference League first phase. Sitting pretty with a 100% record after five straight wins allows Moyes to rest key players ahead of Sunday's Premiership clash with Palace.

All of which will make for an interesting game as the kids get a big chance to strut their stuff. Also, for Ogbonna and Aguerd there will be vital game time as they continue their recovery from injuries.

Ex-WHU emplyee has revealed the likely travelling squad which is thin on experience and may be in for a tough time against the passionate Romanians who proved tough opponents in the earlier clash at the London stadium.

Of note, there is no action for either Lucas Paqueta or Maxwell Cornet, both of whom would benefit from some game time to get back into the groove. Perhaps they are viewed as being better served continuing their recovery back home as at least Paqueta is expected to make a welcome return for the Palace clash.

West ham can become the first team to win all six group matches if they prevail tonight but it could get difficult out there, especially if the Romanians get ahead early as the squad is lacking any depth of exoerience to shore things up if needed. 

It'll be a big night for Conor Coventry and Flynn Downes as they look likely to share defensive midfield duties. With no Scamacca or Antonio it will be interesting to see who Moyes sees as his third choice striker!

Ex-WHU squad for Bucharest: Alphonse Areola, Darren Randolph, Krisztian Hegyi, Nayef Aguerd, Harrison Ashby, Kaelan Casey, Regan Clayton, Vladimir Coufal, Conor Coventry, Flynn Downes, Michael Forbes, Pablo Fornals, Keenan Forson, Ben Johnson, Manuel Lanzini, Divin Mubama, Angelo Ogbonna, Freddie Potts, Oliver Scarles, Kamarai Swyer and Lewis Orford.

Moyes ready to finally make the record books

Oooogh! Moyes has picked a strong starting XI to take on Man United with Dawson back and Bowen passing a late fitness test. 

Scamacca gets the nod ahead of Antonio but expect Mikey to appear as and when needed before the end.

Both Benrahma and Downes are rewarded for their decent form of late and start.

Perhaps in recognition of his record of scoring against the Hammers, or that we tend to hang deep away to top sides, Ronaldo starts.

Moyes' men need to press hard to expose Man Utds flexibility. 

With Ericksen and Fernandes in midfield, Soucek, Rice and Downes need to get stuck in and make ot as physical as possible. 

Set pieces could be key as Zouma, Dawson, Soucek, Rice and Scamacca are pretty formidable from corners.

Moyes still awaits an away win against Man Utd but this is definitely possible with today's teams.

COYI!!!

West Ham United: Fabianski; Kehrer, Zouma, Dawson, Cresswell; Rice (c), Soucek; Bowen, Downes, Benrahma; Scamacca.

Subs: Areola, Johnson, Coufal, Fornals, Antonio, Lanzini, Ogbonna, Coventry, Emerson.

Man Utd: De Gea, Dalot, Shaw, Maguire, Martinez, Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Elanga, Rashford, Ronaldo.

Subs: Bishop, Dubravka, Fred, McTominay, Malacia, Pellistri, Van de Beek, Garnacho, Sancho.

Here's how Moyes can change his awful record against top sides

To kick things off West ham have not beaten Man United at Ye Olde Trafforde since the great escape in 2007, with a humble 3 draws and eleven defeats!

Add to that David Moyes has never won away from home as a manager against Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, or Arsenal despite a whopping 69 attempts!

Quite simply, his record is atrocious and here's why - he plays it tight trying to steal a win with counterattack but in doing so typically concedes 65%+ possession. That simply doesn't work when you are up against the might of wobbly refs and aggressive home fans where soft free kicks and penalties are a regular occurence and decide close games. 

The trick is to try to win by two goals, not nick a 1-0 smash n grab raid. Maybe we need to pretend that a win by two goals is needed to stave off relegation or qualify for Europe or avoid the plague - whichever option, let's play like our futures depend upon it!

Moyes has rarely had the kind of resources available to him to go toe to toe with big sides but just now he has his best squad ever and can realistically match Man Utd in every department - but only if the players play to their potential!

There is absolutely no reason why a Rice-Soucek-Downes triad in midfield can't at least get parity with Man United's current midfield set up. Add to that the defensive spine of Kehrer, Zouma and Fabianski and we shoukd force Man United out onto the flanks where if Bowen and Benrahma are energetically tracking back we can limit penetration. 

With our current attacking options we can surely create chances and given our recent fortune in front of goal this would be the ideal game for things to click into place as we undoubtedly have the ability to hurt opposition sides.

Whether Moyes throws down the gauntlet or opts for a conservative will become evident in a few hours but even if we start cagey there is the option of switching to full nuclear with Antonio and Scamacca asking the questions, with Bowen and Benrahma pitching in.

It's time to end the pain.

Rory Nostradamus is opting for 3-1 to West ham but the bookies are offering 40-1 against and of note he was out picking mushrooms yesterday so may be feeling a bit 'unusual'

Let's do this!

COYI!