Gent 1-1 West Ham LIVE! Cuypers goal - Europa Conference League result, match stream and latest updates today

Danny Ings scored the first European goal of his career but West Ham’s winning streak on the continent this season was ended by a 1-1 draw away at Belgian side Gent.

Ings tucked away Jarrod Bowen’s cross on the stroke of half-time - thanks in no small part to a Gent ball boy - to give them the lead in the first leg of the Europa Conference League quarter-final.

But West Ham’s defending let them down after the break as they allowed Gent forward Hugo Cuypers to equalise, leaving the tie finely poised heading into next week’s second leg at the London Stadium.

The Hammers may be struggling in the Premier League, but their European exploits - they came into this game with a perfect 10 out of 10 win record - have raised genuine hopes that a miserable season could yet turn into a memorable one with a first trophy in 43 years.

However, it was a ragged first half from the visitors, with Ben Johnson making a timely block to prevent Cuypers from firing home while both Kamil Piatkowski and Joseph Okumu headed over from corners.

West Ham thought they had taken the lead, against the run of play, when Gent goalkeeper Davy Roef dropped Bowen’s corner under pressure from Nayef Aguerd, but a VAR check ruled it out for handball by the Morocco defender.

However, they did edge in front on the stroke of half-time when Vladimir Coufal caught Gent napping with a quickly-taken throw.

Boss David Moyes has fallen foul of ball boys in Europe before; he was sent off for kicking a ball at one in their semi-final defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt last season.

But he was grateful to the Gent youngster who lobbed the ball straight to Coufal so the right-back could immediately find Bowen in the box.

Bowen squared the ball across goal and Ings, on his first European start since October 2015 for Liverpool, tapped in at the far post.

The goal was subject to another VAR check, this time for offside, but the decision went the way of the Hammers to delight the 1,000 visiting fans squashed into the corner at the opposite end.

However, Gent dragged themselves level in the 57th minute when West Ham failed to track their runners.

Angelo Ogbonna was nutmegged and Cuypers sidestepped Johnson too easily before finishing past Hammers keeper Alphonse Areola.

Bowen could have put West Ham back in front after he was sent through by Lucas Paqueta only for his attempted chip over Roef to roll wide, while Gent’s Nigerian striker Gift Orban hit the crossbar with an overhead kick.

There was confusion in stoppage time when home defender Piatkowski was sent off, and then reinstated after a review, for bringing down Paqueta.

Moyes was angry that Gent were given back the ball as his side chased a winner, but moments later the final whistle blew and it is all to play for in seven days’ time.

Gent vs West Ham latest news

• Full match report

• West Ham player ratings

• Moyes gamble creates more work for West Ham in unique challenge

• Moyes issues frank assessment of result

Good night

21:08 , Jonathan Gorrie

Thank you for joining Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of West Ham’s draw with Gent.

Find our report, ratings, reaction and analysis below!

David Moyes admits sub-par West Ham have a lot to improve on after Gent draw

21:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

David Moyes suggested West Ham were fortunate to escape with a draw from Thursday’s Europa Conference League meeting with KAA Gent, admitting the result was better than his side’s performance.

The Belgian outfit managed 20 shots to the Hammers’ four during the first-leg of their quarter-final tie, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw as Hugo Cuypers’ strike cancelled out Danny Ings’ opener.

It leaves the tie perfectly poised heading into next week’s return leg at the London Stadium, with Moyes fully aware that his team must produce an improved display if they are to reach a second successive European semi-final.

Read Moyes’ full comments here!

Moyes gamble creates more work for West Ham in unique challenge

20:27 , Jonathan Gorrie

The Ghelamco Arena, with its sleek, glass-panelled exterior, looks more like an out-of-town conference centre than a football stadium and as the Europa Conference League belatedly reached its business end, West Ham were at last made to earn their keep.

David Moyes’s side have breezed through the competition thus far, winning ten matches on the spin and scoring 25 goals in the process, their last-16 tie taking them, literally, to a seaside holiday resort.

Against a KAA Gent side in good form, however, they were served a reminder that no trophy will come cheap. A 1-1 draw here leaves the tie finely poised ahead of next week’s return at the London Stadium, a match that will now be laced with more jeopardy than any the club have played in Europe since last season’s semi-final defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.

This was not a game that began - obvious jibes about the status of Uefa’s third-tier competition aside - with the feel of a major European quarter-final, nor of a particularly hostile away assignment, blue skies and an early evening kick-off in keeping with the relaxed, quaint feel of this charming city.

Read Malik Ouzia’s full report here!

West Ham player ratings: Johnson twisted inside and out, Lanzini poor

20:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham drew with Gent in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final on Thursday night.

Danny Ings had put the away side into the lead with a simple tap-in but the Hammers ceded control and saw Hugo Cuypers round off a brilliant team move to draw the home side level.

The two sides will meet again in east London next week to decide a place in the final four.

Here’s how David Moyes’s side rated at the Ghelamco Arena...

Full match report

19:59 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham were lucky to draw with Gent in their Europa Conference League quarter-final on Thursday night.

Danny Ings’ first half goal was cancelled out by a strike from Hugo Cuypers to tie the score at 1-1 heading into next week’s return leg at the London Stadium.

Set-pieces have proven a profitable avenue for Moyes’ side this season and they thought they had the opener six minutes before the break. Gent goalkeeper Davy Roef made a mess of a corner and dropped the ball onto Nayef Aguerd, who almost looked too embarrassed to celebrate.

The Moroccan, however, bundled the ball over the line with his hand and the goal was chalked off.

Though West Ham played without any sense of urgency for much of the first half, it was ironically some quick-thinking that led to their opener.

Read Jonathan Gorrie’s full match report here!

FT: Gent 1-1 West Ham

19:46 , Jonathan Gorrie

Gent survive that VAR drama and the game is finely poised heading into the second leg.

Overturned!

19:44 , Jonathan Gorrie

VAR keeps the Poland international in the game but West Ham have a dangerous free-kick.

RED CARD!

19:42 , Jonathan Gorrie

92 mins: Paqueta brought down by Piatkowski after the Brazilian robbed Gent of the ball late on!

CHANCE FOR WEST HAM!

19:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

91 mins: Great work from Paqueta finds Antonio though his tame shot is saved.

CHANCE FOR GENT!

19:35 , Jonathan Gorrie

85 mins: Tissoudali tears West Ham apart on the counter and frees Samoise, who tees up the former.

He, however, puts wide from close range.

West Ham all over the place

19:34 , Jonathan Gorrie

84 mins: Gent are really pushing for this now. Rice and Ogbonna have to scramble clear deep in the penalty box.

CHANCE FOR GENT!

19:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

80 mins: Orban hits an audacious overhead kick and hits the bar!

CHANCE FOR WEST HAM!

19:25 , Jonathan Gorrie

75 mins: Lovely ball from Paqueta finds Bowen but he shoots wide under pressure from the ‘keeper.

Another West Ham change

19:24 , Jonathan Gorrie

CHANCE FOR GENT!

19:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

67 mins: Castro-Montes drags a shot wide as Gent ramp up the pressure!

West Ham changes

19:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham changes

19:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

Malik Ouzia at the Ghelamco Arena

19:09 , Jonathan Gorrie

That was probably the first flowing bit of football either side have produced in the match. Lovely goal, for all West Ham’s defending was a bit passive.

GOAL! Gent 1-1 West Ham | Hugo Cuypers ‘55

19:06 , Jonathan Gorrie

55 mins: Gent are level!

West Ham let Orban and De Sart run off their markers and a quick one-two between them creates space for Cuypers in-behind.

De Sart threads one through to him and he hits a powerful finish past Areola.

Really nice play from West Ham

19:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

54 mins: Unlike in the opening 45 minutes, they’re sustaining pressure.

Lovely backheel from Lanzini frees Coufal to whip in a dangerous ball but Gent manage to scramble it clear.

Quick West Ham start

18:58 , Jonathan Gorrie

48 mins: Really direct play from Bowen down the right has Gent nervous but they manage to clear lines.

Back underway!

18:54 , Jonathan Gorrie

Here we go!

A look at Danny Ings’ goal

18:47 , Jonathan Gorrie

The right place at the right time...

Carlton Cole to BT Sport

18:46 , Jonathan Gorrie

“West Ham haven’t got going.”

HT: Gent 0-1 West Ham

18:39 , Jonathan Gorrie

Not totally convincing but Ings’ goal gives West Ham a slender lead.

Malik Ouzia at the Ghelamco Arena

18:35 , Jonathan Gorrie

Full credit to Vladimir Coufal and Jarrod Bowen, who were so alert there to work the quick throw. I’m not sure Ings was any more alert than usual - that’s his meat and drink at the far post.

Another VAR check...

18:35 , Jonathan Gorrie

But West Ham survive! Goal given!

GOAL! Gent 0-1 West Ham | Danny Ings ‘47

18:34 , Jonathan Gorrie

47 mins: Quick play from Coufal sees his throw in find Bowen, who squares for Ings to tap in from close range.

Gent went to sleep!

Malik Ouzia at the Ghelamco Arena

18:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham have looked extremely vulnerable from corners so far, which for all their flaws this season, is not like them.

Gent panicking

18:30 , Jonathan Gorrie

43 mins: Gent look nervous now, slicing clearances away and making hard work of set-plays. Where has this pressure been all game?

DISALLLOWED!

18:27 , Jonathan Gorrie

41 mins: Or not! Goal chalked off as it appeared to hit Aguerd’s hand.

GOAL! Gent 0-1 West Ham | Nayef Aguerd ‘39

18:26 , Jonathan Gorrie

39 mins: Roef looks to catch Bowen’s corner with ease but drops the ball completely and it hits Aguerd on its way over the line!

Malik Ouzia at the Ghelamco Arena

18:23 , Jonathan Gorrie

This game has been incredibly stop-start. I’d love to see one ball-in-play stats. I’d set the over-under line at about three-and-a-half minutes.

CHANCE FOR GENT!

18:21 , Jonathan Gorrie

33 mins: Brilliant ball in from Kums finds Cuypers but Johnson manages to clear.

Ok to continue!

18:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

30 mins: Appears the Italian will be coming back on, which looks a real risk against such an in-form player in Orban.

Nasty

18:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

30 mins: Ogbonna looks in real pain here.

Injury concern

18:15 , Jonathan Gorrie

30 mins: Ogbonna lands awkwardly and requires treatment.

Malik Ouzia at the Ghelamco Arena

18:11 , Jonathan Gorrie

Flynn Downes has now made two good tackles and somehow given away two free-kicks for them. A long night for a player of his style on a booking.

West Ham on the back foot

18:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

23 mins: Gent string a lovely move together on the right before switching play and allowing De Start to shoot from around 20 yards. Areola saves wih ease but an example of the confidence with which the home side are playing.

Malik Ouzia at the Ghelamco Arena

18:07 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham have looked pretty disjointed when they do break forward in what is an unfamiliar system in terms of both shape and personnel. When Coufal broke forward there neither he nor any of the runners seemed to have much of a plan.

Dangerous free-kick

18:03 , Jonathan Gorrie

16 mins: Downes brings down Orban, although Gent’s star striker hits only the wall from the resulting free-kick.

Risky play from West Ham

17:59 , Jonathan Gorrie

12 mins: Johnson and Ogbonna get into a tangle and almost allow Orban in.

The former, however, gets there first and boots the ball out of play. Torunarigha heads over from the resulting corner.

Malik Ouzia the Ghelamco Arena

17:58 , Jonathan Gorrie

A very flat start to this game. Perhaps it’s the clear blue skies and early evening kick-off but it certainly doesn’t feel like a big European quarter-final.

Gent game plan obvious

17:57 , Jonathan Gorrie

10 mins: Win the ball quickly and feed the fast front two.

Knowing it is one thing, stopping it is another.

Coufal gets forward

17:52 , Jonathan Gorrie

06 mins: Lanzini and Ings, however, make the same run to the near post and miss Coufal’s cut-back entirely.

West Ham starting well

17:50 , Jonathan Gorrie

03 mins: Gent having to soak up an awful lot of pressure in the early stages, albeit without West Ham creating many clear cut chances.

Early free-kick wasted

17:48 , Jonathan Gorrie

02 mins: Emerson crosses from deep but puts too much on it and Ogbonna can’t quite get there.

KICK-OFF

17:46 , Jonathan Gorrie

Here we go!

Team are out

17:44 , Jonathan Gorrie

We’re almost there!

Malik Ouzia at Ghelamco Arena

17:38 , Jonathan Gorrie

Only minutes until kick-off here and still plenty of empty seats around. The traffic around the ground was a nightmare so perhaps that has something to do with it but first impressions are that this is not going to be one of the more hostile away atmospheres West Ham have experienced on their European jolly.

Malik Ouzia at the Ghelamco Arena

17:32 , Jonathan Gorrie

Reflecting on some interesting West Ham team news...

Malik Ouzia at the Ghelamco Arena

17:12 , Jonathan Gorrie

A slight surprise at the strength - or weakness - of the team David Moyes has fielded here. I was expecting something close to full-strength, perhaps with a view to resting players next week ahead of Bournemouth if the job is done. A bit of a gamble.

How Declan Rice can secure Noble West Ham send-off and avoid tainted legacy

17:11 , Jonathan Gorrie

It was around this time last year that Mark Noble began to look, with a sharper focus, towards the end of his West Ham career and a farewell that seemed all upside.

The dream send-off, a ride off into the Andalusian sunset with the Europa League trophy strapped to the top of an old Cortina, never quite materialised. But as Noble rolled through the rituals of his final games in claret and blue, he was comforted by the idea that he was leaving his boyhood club in ruder health that at any point since his graduation from its academy almost 20 years earlier.

“I always felt a responsibility to get us out of the rubbish,” Noble said in one of his many exit interviews. “It’s a lot easier to leave on a good note.”

As he enters the final throes of his own West Ham career, Noble’s successor has no such luxury. Declan Rice has a dozen Premier League games left before he gets his wish of a move to a Champions League outfit, starting on Saturday against Southampton, that will decide whether or not the ship from which he leaps is sunken.

With each international break tends to come a reminder of why this season will be Rice’s last at the club, and the one just passed proved no exception. In Naples, against the same Italian midfield that dominated England in the Euro 2020 final, the 24-year-old was magnificent, picking up where he left off in a Three Lions shirt in Qatar, where his reputation was enhanced and £100million price-tag — whatever Graeme Souness thinks — justified.

Read Malik Ouzia’s full feature here!

Rice backs West Ham tactics change as summer signings left out

16:59 , Jonathan Gorrie

Declan Rice says West Ham’s dressing room was left “numb” by last week’s chastening defeat to Newcastle, but believes a return to their counter-attacking ways of old could be the key to the Hammers’ survival chances.

The Hammers were humiliated 5-1 by the Champions League-chasing Magpies at the London Stadium on Wednesday night, but bounced back with a vital 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage this weekend.

Following on from last Sunday’s win against Southampton by the same scoreline, David Moyes’ side have taken six points from three games in the space of seven days and climbed to 13th in the Premier League table to at least temporarily ease relegation fears heading into this week’s Europa Conference League quarter-final against Gent.

Rice hailed his team-mates’ response to the Newcastle defeat, which came after Moyes made five changes to his lineup, including recalling experienced defenders Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal, and switched to a 4-4-2 formation.

Read Rice’s full comments here!

FA Youth Cup Final: Date confirmed for Arsenal vs West Ham showdown

16:44 , Jonathan Gorrie

Arsenal will face West Ham in the FA Youth Cup final at Emirates Stadium on April 25.

The two sides booked their place in the final earlier this month, but a date for the fixture had not been confirmed.

The FA had stated the match must be played before April 29 and it has now been scheduled to be played on Tuesday, April 25 at 7pm.

Arsenal are bidding to win the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 2009, when current Under-18 manager Jack Wilshere was in the team.

“It’s relief, joy, love for the players, emotions - everything,” Wilshere said after the young Gunners beat Manchester City in the semi-finals.

“For me, right now, it feels like one of the top moments of my career as a coach, obviously as a coach as I am young coach, but as a player as well it feels like it’s up there.”

They have enjoyed a dramatic run to this year’s final, scoring last-minute winners in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals.

West Ham have defeated Sheffield United, Burnley, Stoke City and Ipswich Town away from home, before a convincing 6-1 win over Southampton in the semi-finals.

Gent’s danger man

16:37 , Jonathan Gorrie

Gift Orban has bagged five goals in four Europa Conference League games this season, including the fastest-ever hat-trick in Europe.

Confirmed Gent lineup

16:32 , Jonathan Gorrie

Gent XI: Roef; Castro-Montes, Piqtowski, Okumu, Torunarigha; Hong, Kums, De Sart, Fofana; Cuypers; Orban

Subs: Nardi, Ofoe, Hauge, Lagae, Samoise, Fortuna, Depoitre, Godeau, Tissoudali

Confirmed West Ham lineup

16:25 , Jonathan Gorrie

Areola; Coufal, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Johnson; Emerson; Rice, Downes; Lanzini, Bowen; Ings

Subs: Fabianski, Anang, Cresswell, Zouma, Fornals, Antonio, Paqueta, Cornet, Benrahma, Kehrer, Soucek, Mubama

Who could West Ham play in the semi-finals?

16:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

While they have to get through Gent over two legs, David Moyes will feel confident of making May’s final.

Should they beat their Belgian opposition, either Anderlecht - a team they made light work in the group stages - or AZ Alkmaar await.

Latest odds

16:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

Betway: Gent vs West Ham match odds

Gent 11/5

Draw 11/5

West Ham 6/5

Betway: Conference League winner 2022/23

West Ham 9/4

AZ Alkmaar 7/2

Fiorentina 7/2

Nice 4/1

RSC Anderlecht 14/1

Gent 16/1

FC Basel 20/1

Lech Poznan 25/1

Head to head (h2h) history and results

16:03 , Jonathan Gorrie

These two teams have not met for 59 years.

Gent wins: 0

Draws: 1

West Ham wins: 1

David Moyes urges West Ham to learn from Eintracht Frankfurt implosion in Gent quarter-final clash

15:57 , Jonathan Gorrie

David Moyes has urged his West Ham side to learn the lessons of last season’s Europa League semi-final implosion, but warned: “I don’t want vanilla players”.

The Hammers are looking to reach a second successive European semi-final as they take on Belgian side Gent in Thursday’s Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg.

Last year’s superb run came to an anti-climatic end against Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-final, with Moyes’s side conceding inside the first 60 seconds of a 2-1 defeat at home and then seeing any hopes of a turnaround evaporate with Aaron Cresswell’s red card early in the second leg.

The Irons’ meltdown was compounded when Moyes was himself sent off late on for kicking a ball towards a ballboy, while Declan Rice was subsequently banned for accusing a match official of corruption in the tunnel.

Speaking at Gent’s Ghelamco Arena, Moyes suggested his players would be better prepared to keep their cool this time around, but insisted that must not come at the expense of any intensity.

Read Moyes’ comments in full here!

Moyes responds to banner calling for his sacking as West Ham get crucial win

15:49 , Jonathan Gorrie

David Moyes says West Ham have no choice but to “grind the results out” as fans again voiced their disapproval of the Scot’s management, despite Saturday’s vital win over Fulham.

Moyes went into the game under huge pressure after Wednesday night’s 5-1 thumping at home to Newcastle but saw his side deliver a much needed three points with a spirited defensive display.

The Hammers climbed to 13th in the table with only their second Premier League win of the season, a 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage coming courtesy of Harrison Reed’s first-half own-goal.

Despite the scoreline, Moyes’s decision to withdraw striker Danny Ings on the hour-mark was met with chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” from the away end, while at full-time a ‘Moyes Out’ banner was held aloft in the crowd amid the celebrations of a crucial victory.

Read the full story here!

West Ham identify Conor Gallagher and Kalvin Phillips as Declan Rice replacement

15:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

West Ham are ready to revive their interest in Conor Gallagher and Kalvin Phillips as they seek a replacement for Declan Rice this summer.

The Hammers have been long-term admirers of the England duo and their situations are being monitored, with both facing uncertain futures at their current clubs.

The pair are on a shortlist of leading contenders to replace Rice, who will be sold at the end of the season as he effectively enters the final two years of his contract having turned down several offers of a lucrative new deal.

No formal approach has been made for either player but, provided they retain their Premier League status, West Ham are expected to act on indication that either could be available.

The Irons failed with an audacious £50million bid to sign Phillips from Leeds late in last year’s January transfer window as David Moyes sought to reunite the midfield partnership with Rice that drove England to the Euro 2020 final. The 27-year-old eventually saw out the season with his boyhood club before joining Manchester City last summer, but has hardly featured under Pep Guardiola this term, playing just 65 minutes in the League.

The Hammers were one of a number of clubs interested in taking Gallagher on loan during last summer’s window, but Chelsea eventually decided to keep the academy graduate at Stamford Bridge after his successful spell at Crystal Palace.

Moyes has been targeting a high-profile midfield signing for some time and while club-record arrival Lucas Paqueta has been deployed in a deeper role of late, Rice’s expected departure will still leave a gaping hole in the Irons’ side.

Phillips would look the most natural replacement as a holding player and Moyes remains a big fan, though there are concerns within the West Ham hierarchy over his injury record.

It is also thought that City would be reluctant to sanction a sale so soon. The champions are already set to lose Ilkay Gundogan and possibly Bernardo Silva this summer, meaning Phillips could be set for a more prominent role in his second season, a common theme among Guardiola buys.

With Euro 2024 looming, however, Phillips can ill-afford another campaign on the periphery and City are again planning significant midfield investment, with both Rice and Jude Bellingham as key targets.

Despite strong rival interest from Newcastle, a move for Gallagher could prove more realistic. The 23-year-old has featured regularly for Chelsea this term, but is one of their most saleable assets among players not considered a guaranteed starter and the club are open to letting him go for the right price.

There is set to be a significant clear-out at the Bridge and the Blues are keen to bring in another marquee midfielder to partner British transfer-record signing Enzo Fernandez, while N’Golo Kante is on the verge of signing a new contract.

Vladimir Coufal: Winning a trophy with West Ham would be extra special

15:27 , Jonathan Gorrie

Vladimir Coufal has urged his West Ham team-mates to seize their rare chance to deliver European silverware, insisting few clubs can bank on reeling off trophies like Manchester City.

The Hammers continue their Europa Conference League campaign in Belgium tonight, when they take on Gent in the quarter-final first leg.

David Moyes’s side have endured a dismal domestic campaign so far and are locked in a relegation battle but have been superb in Europe, winning 10 matches out of 10.

That run has left them on the brink of a second successive European semi-final and, beyond that, within sight of only the fifth major trophy in the club’s history.

The Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’ have dominated domestic cup competitions in recent seasons, winning 12 of the last 14 FA Cups and every League Cup since Swansea’s triumph a decade ago, and Coufal believes his side cannot afford to let this opening slide by.

Read Coufal’s full comments here!

Moyes knows European glory is likeliest route to saving his job

15:21 , Jonathan Gorrie

It was rather like that time someone left a Starbucks cup in shot on an episode of Game of Thrones.

They were clenched fists, not flagons of ale, that West Ham fans raised in celebration in the away end at Craven Cottage, but as a ‘Moyes Out’ banner bobbed about among them, something about the scene did not quite fit.

Saturday’s protest seemed ill-timed, with the Irons having bounced back impressively from their Newcastle mauling and climbed clear of the relegation zone, as did the taunting of Moyes’s substitutions, which were ultimately vindicated in seeing out only a second away League win of the season.

But both told of the dangerous place the Scot has reached in the minds of many supporters, one in which the losses are because of him, the wins in spite of him.

Read Malik Ouzia’s full feature on Moyes here!

Prediction: Gent to win first-leg

15:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

Gent are in fine form heading into the game, as opposed to the Jekyll-and-Hyde Hammers team, so are either getting thumped or scrapping unconvincing wins.

While West Ham have the quality in their ranks, confidence will play a big part here and the hosts should sneak this first leg.

Gent to win, 1-0.

Gent team news: Roef could start

15:17 , Jonathan Gorrie

For Gent, they will likely also pick their back-up keeper in Davy Roef. Gift Orban and Hugo Cuypers will lead the line and give the Hammers defence plenty to worry about.

West Ham team news: Lucas Paqueta fit

15:16 , Jonathan Gorrie

Lucas Paqueta is fit to feature after a recent injury.

David Moyes has a tactical decision to make after reverting to 4-4-2 last time out and beating Fulham.

If Moyes sticks with the four-man midfield, it’s likely he will make few changes, though back-up goalkeeper Alphonse Areola should start. Said Benrahma is pushing for a start.

Where to watch Gent vs West Ham

15:14 , Jonathan Gorrie

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BT Sport 2, with coverage beginning at 5pm BST.

Live stream: Subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the BT Sport app and website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog.

Welcome

15:11 , Jonathan Gorrie

Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of West ham’s Europa Conference League clash against Gent today.

Kick-off inside the Ghelamco Arena is at 5.45pm BST.