West Ham United entertain League Two side Macclesfield at the London Stadium on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup.
And West Ham do so having been installed as joint fourth favourites to win the competition.
The Hammers have not lifted a major trophy – no the Intertoto Cup does not count West Ham fans – since winning the FA Cup in 1980.
But it seems Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham are fancied to end 38 years of hurt.
According to Ladbrokes, the Hammers are joint fourth favourites to win the Carabao Cup alongside Tottenham Hotspur.
Only Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool are more fancied.
Ladbrokes revealed its betting figures and Pellegrini’s Hammers are favoured over the likes of Chelsea and Everton.
Should West Ham overcome Macclesfield – who have famously never lost a penalty shootout in their 144-year history – they will fancy their chances of making the quarter-finals.
Remaining teams the Hammers would be confident of beating include Blackpool, Bournemouth, Middlesbrough, Burton Albion, Derby County and Norwich City while Nottingham Forest or Stoke City will be added to that list and one of Liverpool or Chelsea will be eliminated.
The East Londoners should not look too far past Macclesfield, though, given history is littered with Premier League teams slipping up against lower league opposition.
But West Ham have fared a lot better against such opposition in recent seasons.
8 most popular picks for Carabao Cup (% of bets placed)
Liverpool – 22%
Man City – 17%
Arsenal – 12%
Tottenham – 9%
>West Ham – 9%
Chelsea – 6%
Everton – 4%
Bournemouth – 3%
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