Manchester City: Caballero, Zabaleta, Otamendi, Stones, Clichy, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Nolito, Aguero
Subs: Hart, Fernando, Nasri, Kolarov, Delph, Iheanacho, Navas
West Ham United: Adrian, Antonio, Collins, Reid, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Noble, Kouyate, Töre, Fletcher, Valencia
Subs: Randolph, Byram, Burke, Oxford, Obiang, Lanzini, Calleri
West Ham Utd: Randolph, Byram, Ried, Ogbonna, Burke, Nordtveit, Tore, Obiang, Kouyate, Antonio, Calleri, SUBS: Adrian, Collins, Oxford, Browne, Diangana, Valencia, Fletcher
Astra Giurgiu: Lung, Alves, Fabricio, Seto, Alibec, Morais, Lovin, Niculae, Sapunaru, Ionita, Teixeira, SUBS: Gavrilas, Raileanu, Florea, Moise, Oros, Stan, Balaure
Just when Hammers fans thought they had seen it all with regards to players at the club dropping like flies, news arrives not only of David Sullivan being hospitalised but also that of David Gold having to visit the Lister Hospital!
It wasn't pretty, but it was a positive result! A victory at home was essential for West Ham United, and the home team, devoid of some seriously major players delivered the goods at a sun drenched London Stadium. In a way it was a match of redemption for Mikael Antonio, finally shorn of the sheckles of being a right back, he was able to be the player that all West Ham and Nottingham Forest fans know he is capable of, and topped off a turbo charged performance with a winning headed goal against a resolute Bournemouth side in the 82nd minute.
West Ham: Adrian, Byram, Masuaku, Reid, Collins, Noble, Kouyate, Nordtveit, , Antonio, Tore, Valencia Subs: Randolph, Burke, Oxford, Obiang, Fletcher , Calleri
Bournemouth: Boruc, Smith, Francis, Cook, Daniels, Cook, Surman, Arter, Ibe, Wilson, King Subs: Gosling, Aké, Afobe, Gradel, Smith, Federici, Grabban
News media sources are awash with doom and gloom stories relating to West Ham United, Andre Ayew's long term injury after playing a mere 35 minutes against Chelsea, in addition to Aaron Cresswell's long term injury sustained in a pre-season friendly have rather set the tone for the reporting. So recent rumours that Andy Carroll has picked up another injury and that Dimitri Payet has a 'slight knock' in addition to Cheik Kouyate being injured are par to the course, but are they true?
(1) Slaven Billic has to balance Barclay's premier league attainment against Europa League progress.
(2) Gokhan Tore needs to 'pound the weights'
(3) Sam Byram deserves a start despite being a bit too aggressive
(4) Although he missed a sitter at the end, Mikael Antonio deserves to start as a winger ahead of Tore
(5) Astoundingly there were no additional injuries sustained!- Ed
Astra Giurgiu : Lung, Vangjeli, Alves, Fabricio, Junior Morais, Sapunaru, Lovin, Ionita, Seto, Filipe Teixeira, Niculae SUBS: Gavrilas (GK), Alibec, Florea, Oros, Mansaly, Stan, Balaure
West Ham: Randolph, Byram, Oxford, Ogbonna, Burke, Obiang, Noble, Antonio, Valencia, Tore, Calleri SUBS: Adrian, Collins, Reid, Kouyate, Browne, Fletcher, Carroll
Now the dust has settled a little since the disappointing 2-1 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, West Ham players will have to pick themselves up for the trip to Romania to face Astra Giurgiu at Stadionul Marin Anastasovici for their Europa League qualifying play off first leg tie. Significant absentees are Andre Ayew, Manny Lanzini, Feghouli, Sakho and Dimi Payet.
Chelsea: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Kante, Matic, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Costa.
Subs: Begovic, Fabregas, Pedro, Loftus-Cheek, Moses, Batshuayi, Aina.
West Ham: Adrian, Antonio, Reid, Collins, Masuaku, Kouyate, Nordtveit, Noble, Ayew, Carroll, Valencia.
Subs: Randolph, Obiang, Tore, Ogbonna, Byram, Payet, Oxford.