West Ham vs Gent LIVE commentary: Hammers aim to reach European semi-finals for second year in a row

West Ham will aim to reach the semi-finals of a major European competition for the second consecutive year when they host Gent tonight.

The Hammers welcome the Belgian side to London for the second leg of their Europa Conference League tie after a lacklustre performance led to a 1-1 draw last week.

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Danny Ings’ goal was one of only four shots that David Moyes’ side managed while their opponents had 20 attempts in total. 

They will have to improve this time around if they want to progress and after a draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday, spirits have been lifted. 

Opponents Gent drew 1-1 for the third game in a row at the weekend but will need to find the winning formula if they are to send West Ham packing. 

West Ham vs Gent: talkSPORT coverage 

This Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg takes place on Thursday, April 20. 

Kick-off at the London Stadium is scheduled for 8pm. 

talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of the game with commentary coming from Alex Crook and former West Ham midfielder Matt Holland. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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West Ham vs Gent: Team news

West Ham XI: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma, Antonio.

Subs: Fabianski, Anang, Johnson, Cresswell, Fornals, Lanzini, Downes, Cornet, Ings, Kehrer, Potts, Mubama.

Gent XI: Roef; Samoise, Piatkowski, Okumu, Nurio Fortuna; Kums, De Sart, Castro-Montes; Hong; Cuypers, Orban.

Subs: Nardi, Odjidja-Ofoe, Hauge, Fofana, Torunarigha, Depoitre, Godeau, Tissoudali, Van Daele.

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West Ham vs Gent: What has been said? 

West Ham boss Moyes is keen to see his players improve after the first-leg draw last week. 

He said: “There were so many different aspects we could be better at. 

“We didn’t build well and then a lot of the basics come into it like picking up first and second balls. We didn’t put them under pressure. We had opportunities to pass it better.

“I didn’t think the performance was good, but the result was not a bad result, and when you play in cup competitions we are all aware of what can happen.

“Tonight was a cup competition, two teams in a quarter-final and us away from home, with a strong crowd and Gent played very well. Hopefully, we can show them a bit more about how we play when we see them.”

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West Ham vs Gent: Match facts 

• KAA Gent’s Hugo Cuypers has attempted the most shots (30) and registered the highest expected goals value (4.9) of any player in the UEFA Europa Conference League this season. He has scored five goals in the competition this campaign, including Gent’s lone goal in the reverse fixture against West Ham.
• West Ham have scored seven goals from set-piece situations in the UEFA Europa Conference League this season (including Danny Ings’ goal from a throw in the reverse fixture); the joint-most in the competition this term, along with Fiorentina.
• KAA Gent have only won one of their last seven away games in the UEFA Europa Conference League (D2 L4), although that did come in their most recent trip – winning 4-1 at Istanbul Basaksehir in the previous round
• A 1-1 draw in the first leg saw West Ham’s 10-match winning streak in the UEFA Europa Conference League (incl. qualifiers) come to an end. They attempted only four shots in the first leg against KAA Gent; their fewest in a game in the competition this season.
• West Ham have lost just one of their previous eight games against Belgian clubs in European competitions (W4 D3) and are unbeaten at home in such matches (W2 D1).