Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United EFL Cup

Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United EFL Cup

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

I would have expected us to have lost this match under Nuno or at least struggled, as the bubble-blowing players were on a roll, and we were the opposite; now they are just rolling around as if they are waiting for the Titanic to hit an iceberg, while we are rising like a Phoneix out of Nuno's ashes.

Yes, this is the two acrimonious London competitors anxious to end trophy droughts face off in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

After a forced two week break, we returned to the thick of it by taking on Liverpool FC – who expected to give us a lesson In style and craftiness – only for the match to end in a 2-2 draw at the weekend (a game we should have won), while West Ham saw their game against Norwich City postponed.

Spurs v Spammers

Harry Kane scored against Liverpool, while Dele Alli and Son were guilty of failing to bury their title-chasing opponents. Nevertheless, the progress under Conte showed promise and things to come.

Under Levy's tuition, we haven't won a trophy since we won the League Cup in 2008 (just one trophy under Levy, but plenty of managers went through his fingers).

The League Cup again represents our best chance of ending a 15-year trophy drought, and there is no doubt that we would have earned our place in the semi-final if we should get there, having faced Premier League opposition all of the way so far. Conquests over Wolves on penalties and Burnley have brought us this far, and we could now reach the semi-finals for the 17th time. Only Liverpool can match in this competition's history.

We are undefeated in our last five domestic games and our last five at home across all competitions.

Tottenham Hotspur EFL Cup form:

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Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

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West Ham United EFL Cup form:

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West Ham United form (all competitions):

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Team News

Tottenham Hotspur

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was the only absentee from the usual side against the Reds,

 and he is again in doubt for this match along with Bryan Gil, Pierluigi Gollini and Dane Scarlett. Cristian Romero will not feature again this year due to a thigh injury, but we have a clean bill of health compared to many Premier League clubs at the moment.

We are likely to rotate our team, as we are in the midst of four games in the space of 10 days.

There could be starts for fringe players such as Joe Rodon, Steven Bergwijn and Lucas, while Harry Winks could keep his place after impressing against Liverpool.

West Ham

The Spammers will be without the suspended Vladimir Coufal following his controversial red card against Arsenal.

Ryan Fredericks and Ben Johnson sidelined through injury.

My possible starting lineup:

Lloris; Sanchez, Rodon, Davies; Tanganga, Winks, Skipp, Ndombele, Reguilon; Bergwijn, Kane

Thoughts

I am more confident now Conte is in charge than I was with Nuno playing the captain of the Titanic.

I am going for a 3-1 win. And why not? I see confidence all around… in the team, manager and our baying crowd of supporters.

Before this game, we've booked a restaurant table at the Tottenham stadium for 15 people. It should – hopefully, fingers crossed – be a good evening.  COYS!

All the best, Glenn