westhamfans.org

Fresh from Wednesday's appalling Carabao Cup defeat, Manuel Pellegrini's Irons need to bounce back on track, unfortunately today's south coast opponents Bournemouth are one of Hammers' many 'bogey' teams. Playing Brighton is always difficult, but Bournemouth have proved to be even fiercer opposition in the past with many fans thinking that the away team will be lucky to escape with a point from the game.

Oxford: Eastwood, Ruffels, Dickie, Moore, Hall, Brannagan, Long, Forde, Baptiste, Mackie, Thorne Subs: Stevens, Taylor, Woodburn, Fosu, Sykes, Agyei, Jones
West Ham: Roberto, Zabaleta (c), Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku, Fornals, Sanchez, Wilshere, Snodgrass, Holland, Ajeti Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Cardoso, Coventry, Noble, Felipe Anderson, Haller.

West Ham United boss, Manuel Pellegrini, knows only too well the importance that winning a trophy means for his club and it's long suffering supporters has, the EFL Carabao Cup represents a clear route in to Europe for the next season, a route he is determined to take, by hook or by crook. Pelle has hinted at changes from the side that swept away Manchester United at the London Stadium on Sunday, however he will be extremely wary of 'doing a 'Poch' by fielding a team that is too under strength.