West Ham United continue their busy early-season schedule by facing Lincoln City in the EFL Cup third round on Wednesday night.
At a time when the visitors sit in seventh place in the Premier League standings, Lincoln occupy one of the mid-table positions in League One.
Match preview
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If quizzed on West Ham's start to the season, David Moyes may insist that he is relatively content with 10 points being accumulated from six Premier League fixtures.
The only two defeats for the Hammers have been against Manchester City and Liverpool - both by 3-1 scorelines - and they made a winning start to their Europa League campaign last Thursday.
Nevertheless, this is a side that have now failed to keep a clean sheet in seven games in all competitions during 2023-24, and have instead been reliant on their attacking qualities.
That will only take West Ham so far, and Moyes will be conscious of that ahead of trying to avoid succumbing to an EFL Cup shock on Wednesday evening.
While this is by far and large West Ham's smallest priority this season, Moyes will demand that his second-string give him food for thought during a schedule when he will require as many players as possible to be at the top of their game.
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From Lincoln's perspective, it was not so long ago when they had been on a six-game unbeaten streak and had taken the scalp of Premier League opposition in this competition.
Mark Kennedy watched his side keep a clean sheet during a goalless draw at Sheffield United before prevailing in a penalty shootout, building on a run of four wins from five games.
Since then, though, Lincoln have failed to emerge victorious in four contests in all tournaments, with their last two outings ending in defeat to Derby County and Portsmouth.
Some context is required with the loss to Derby occurring in the EFL Trophy and the Imps only going down 2-1 to unbeaten leaders Pompey in their last outing.
Promotion from League One remains Lincoln's focus for the season, yet Kennedy will view this as an opportunity to rekindle the excitement from cup runs in years gone by after a largely uneventful 2022-23.
Team News
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Moyes will almost certainly make wholesale changes to his starting lineup with this game taking place just three days after the Liverpool defeat.
While Tomas Soucek may retain his spot in central midfield, fresh faces could occupy the rest of the first XI, with Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohammed Kudus being handed further starts after their summer arrivals.
With Aaron Cresswell nursing a hamstring injury, Ben Johnson may feature at left-back, while Moyes must decide whether to start Danny Ings or youngster Divin Mubama in attack.
Fewer alterations are expected to be made by Kennedy, yet he may still tinker with his side with four Lincoln players having started every League One fixture this campaign.
Alistair Smith could come into midfield ahead of either Ethan Erhahon or Ethan Hamilton, while Alex Mitchell may get the nod in the back three with Sean Roughan dropping out.
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Jackson, O'Connor, Mitchell; Sorensen, Smith, Erhahon, Burroghs; Hackett-Fairchild, Adelakun, Bishop
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Fabianski; Kehrer, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Johnson; Soucek, Fornals; Benrahma, Kudus, Cornet; Ings
We say: Lincoln City 1-4 West Ham United
With West Ham expected to make widespread changes, Lincoln will fancy their chances of upsetting the odds in this contest. Nevertheless, the Hammers have a deep squad with minimal injuries, leading us to predict a comfortable victory for the Premier League side.
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Top tip
Darren Plant
