West Ham United square off with London rivals Chelsea tomorrow.
Charlie Nicholas has told Sky Sports that he expects West Ham United to beat Chelsea on Wednesday and book their place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup – on penalties.
The Olympic Stadium plays host tomorrow evening as both London rivals battle for a spot in the last eight of the competition in what promises to be a feisty affair.
West Ham look to have turned a corner in the Premier League after winning their last two games – 1-0 at Crystal Palace and another win by the same scoreline at home to Sunderland.
Likewise, Chelsea go into the contest on the back of a morale-boosting 4-0 win over Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
It could well be a very decent match, and Nicholas believes that nothing separate Slaven Bilic and Antonio Conte’s men after 120 minutes, tipping the Irons to go through after winning a shootout.
“This is another really decent game. It’s been two 1-0 wins for West Ham with Winston Reid back in team, making the difference at both ends,” he told Sky Sports.
“If you think there’s a poor atmosphere at the London Stadium then this will test it because these Chelsea fans will make it a feisty one. This is another game, like the Manchester derby, which is going to lack discipline.
“Antonio Conte will make changes but, with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, John Terry and Willian potentially coming in, it won’t be a weak Chelsea side.
“Neither side will want to give up an inch and I can see this going all the way, with West Ham winning on penalties.”
The Hammers’ home form remains something of a concern.
They needed a last-minute winner from Winston Reid to see off bottom-of-the-table Sunderland at their new home at the weekend, and it is obvious that much more will be needed tomorrow as they face a Chelsea side in a rich vein of form.
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