West Ham analysis with Ken Dyer, Evening Standard

Ken Dyer, Football Correspondent for the London Evening Standard, doyen of the London football scene and a highly-respected sports writer since starting his career at local papers in Essex and East London in 1970, gives his take on tonight’s Carabao Cup tie  in our latest ‘Preview from the Press Box’.

West Ham’s display at Leicester

Ken: “I thought they did really well defensively considering they lost Mark Noble, the captain, who was sent off in the first half. They had to play an hour or so with 10 men and coped well, they just got caught out with a late goal. The thing that has impressed me this season is that they have an excellent goalkeeper in Lukasz Fabianski - who probably won’t play tonight, Adrian is likely to start - and in front of him, two centre-halves who have dovetailed well together in Fabian Balbuena and Issa Diop. Balbuena is strong, Diop is quick, a good, young French player. In front of those two is a defensive shield in Declan Rice, who is proving to be a really mature 19-year-old and an excellent player. West Ham have a good spine - but it’s a question of how many of those players will play tonight..."

This game

Ken: “West Ham are restricted somewhat with the injuries they have at the moment. There are six or seven out, plus Mark Noble is suspended. Marko Arnautovic also missed the Leicester game on Saturday with a virus, so we’ll have to wait and see if he’s available. Manuel Pellegrini will want to make changes but I’m not sure how many he can make. He can’t field a complete team of senior professionals and if he wants to make wholesale changes, he’ll have to bring in one or two younger players who haven’t played before. In the last round against Macclesfield when they won 8-0 he played Grady Diangana, who made his debut, did well, scored twice and he’s been in the squad ever since. He played against Leicester on Saturday. It’s difficult to call it. Pellegrini will want to make changes, but he’s limited."

Key player

Ken: "I’m going to go a little left-field, but it’s a Spurs connection as well – Ryan Fredericks. He’ll get a game. He’s not been playing. He started in the team but they lost at Liverpool and he was left out for Pablo Zabaleta. I just think that Manuel Pellegrini wanted a bit more experience in there, so Fredericks has found it tough to get in. I’m sure he will start and he’ll look to impress the manager. He started his career at Spurs and made his debut in the same game that Harry Kane made his - Hearts in the Europa League in 2011. Pellegrini certainly likes attacking full-backs and this may be a chance for him."

Key area

Ken: "I always think if Christian Eriksen plays for Tottenham, that’s the key area. For me, he makes the team tick. West Ham will look to get around him and stop him getting time and space. He finds those pockets of space and he’s such a good player. If West Ham can deny him that space and time - which many teams have failed to do - then that could be key."

Prediction

Ken: "It’s not an easy one. I’d say a draw, but we can’t in this competition, so I think as Tottenham edged it last time, I’ll go for West Ham edging it this time. I think it will be tight, just as it was in the Premier League 11 days ago."