Gent vs West Ham LIVE commentary: Rice, Bowen and Ings start as Moyes seeks European semi-final place

West Ham are on the verge of setting a new European record as they prepare to play Gent in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals tonight.

The Hammers have won eight straight games in UEFA's newest competition, and if they win here and Fiorentina don't, they will hold the longest winning run in Conference League history.

3

Domestically, it has been a season to forget for the Irons, but in Europe, they have been excellent and dispatched every side they have faced.

However, Gent are fourth in the Belgian Pro League, and in Gift Orban, they have a striker who scored the quickest hat-trick in UEFA club competition history in the last round against Istanbul Basaksehir (3 minutes 25 seconds).

Staying in the Premier League has to be the priority for David Moyes and co, but this competition represents an excellent chance for West Ham to finally win a trophy.

Gent vs West Ham: talkSPORT coverage

This Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg clash is set to take place on Thursday, April 13.

Kick-off at Ghelamco Arena is scheduled for 5:45pm UK time.

talkSPORT will have live coverage from Belgium, with Kevin Hatchard and former Hammers midfielder Matt Holland providing commentary.

marvelbet369.com will also have all the reaction from West Ham's game against Gent.

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.

3

Most read in Football

Mikel Arteta confirms worrying potential Arsenal injury blow days before crunch PSG test

Ex-EFL manager clinches victory over PSG ahead of crucial Arsenal decider

'I regret it' - Chelsea gave Liverpool guard of honour but 'one title' dig caused chaos

Bradford steal promotion from EFL rivals with stunning stoppage-time winner

Gent vs West Ham: Team news

Gent XI: Roef, Castro-Montes, Piqtowski, Okumu, Torunarigha, Hong, Kums, De Sart, Fofana, Cuypers, Orban.

Subs: Nardi, Odjidja-Ofoe, Hauge, Lagae, Samoise, Fortuna, Depoitre, Godeau, Tissoudali.

West Ham XI: Areola, Coufal, Johnson, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Emerson, Rice, Downes, Lanzini, Bowen, Ings.

Subs: Fabianski, Anang, Cresswell, Zouma, Fornals, Antonio, Paqueta, Cornet, Benrahma, Kehrer, Soucek, Mubama.

3

Gent vs West Ham: Match facts

• This is the first meeting between KAA Gent and West Ham United since the first round of the 1964-65 Cup Winners' Cup, which West Ham went on to win.
• West Ham have lost just one of their previous seven games against Belgian clubs in European competitions (W4 D2), with their only defeat coming against Anderlecht in the 1976 Cup Winners' Cup final (2-4).
• Gent's last meeting with a Premier League club on the European stage saw them knock Tottenham out of the 2016-17 Europa League Round of 32 (3-2 on aggregate).
• West Ham have won their last eight games in the UEFA Conference League, the joint-longest ever winning run in the history of the competition (Fiorentina are also currently on an 8-game winning streak).
• KAA Gent’s Gift Orban scored the quickest ever hat-trick in the UEFA club competitions in the second leg against İstanbul Başakşehir in the previous round (3 minutes and 25 seconds). Only Fiorentina’s Luka Jovic (6) has scored more goals than Orban (5) in the UEFA Conference League this season.