Cheltenham v West Ham preview: Carabao Cup clash live on Sky Sports Football
Thursday 24 August 2017 07:45, UK
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed he is unlikely to risk winger Michail Antonio in the Carabao Cup tie at Sky Bet League Two side Cheltenham on Wednesday night.
Antonio underwent a hamstring operation over the summer and made his first start in the Premier League match at Southampton before going off in the second half.
The Hammers have lost their opening two games of the season, going down 4-0 at Manchester United and 3-2 at Southampton, and head to Whaddon Road for the clash, live on Sky Sports Football, targeting a first win of the season.
Cheltenham, meanwhile, haven't had the best start themselves and currently sit 20th in the League Two table after a win and two defeats.
Live Carabao Cup
Team news
Versatile Irishman Kevin Dawson could make his first Cheltenham start after joining the Robins from Yeovil in the summer, but his debut was delayed following a thigh injury.
Cheltenham will have a clean bill of health if on-loan midfielder Jerell Sellars recovers from a knock which has forced him to miss the last two games.
Austria forward Marko Arnautovic is suspended after his red card on Saturday and defender Winston Reid (calf) continues to be assessed.
Midfielder Manuel Lanzini is back in training after his knee problem, as is striker Andy Carroll (thigh) and Cheikhou Kouyate (knee).
Opta stats
This will be Cheltenham's fourth League Cup tie with Premier League opposition - they've lost all three in the second round, including most recently against West Ham in August 2013.
The Hammers haven't been eliminated from the League Cup by a side in the fourth tier as a top-flight side since October 1972, when Stockport County won 2-1 at Edgeley Park.
The Robins have never gone beyond the second round of the League Cup in their history.
West Ham were last eliminated by fourth-tier opposition in the League Cup in August 2011, when Aldershot Town won 2-1 at the Boleyn Ground in a first-round match.
Prutton's prediction
I'll be at this game on Wednesday and I'm thoroughly looking forward to it! West Ham could use a victory after their poor start to the season in the Premier League, and anything but a win here will only heap more pressure on Slaven Bilic.
Cheltenham have not had the best start to the season themselves in League Two and, while I don't think West Ham will run away with it, they should get the win.
Prutton predicts: 1-3 with Diafra Sakho to score first (30/1 with Sky Bet)
