Watching a big match at 5.45pm on BT Sport feels a little odd, though it does remind me of my teenage days watching the Irons in the Cup Winners Cup on the BBC in 1976. Diehards Matt, Lisa and Fraser have gone to Becontree to watch in the Dagenham clubhouse, before the West Ham versus Chelsea women's match. Sevilla have an interesting ground, open on three sides because they just don't get rained on, with the 3000 Hammers fans squeezed into one corner.
West Ham start confidently with Ben Johnson, up against quality players, looking really cool at right back. Sevilla do manage to get between our centre backs for a couple of headers and Munir should score when well-placed. The best chance of the first half falls to West Ham. Rice gets his heads to Cresswell's free kick and Vlasic heads straight at Bono, when if he'd headed it downwards he would surely have scored. Though it's a little baffling why the U2 frontman is in goal, but he certainly found what he was looking for there.
Vlasic has a better low drive tipped round the post by Bono and the Hammers are happy with a goalless first half. After the break Antonio plays the ball back to Soucek who has a stinging effort saved by Bono. But Sevilla step up a gear and their tight inter-passing, with Jesus Navas prominent, starts to get behind the Hammers' defence.
Sevilla take the lead from a set piece. Acuna crosses and Munir finds himself unmarked at the back of the box and fires an excellent first-time volley into the corner past Areola. West Ham are lucky not to be two goals down as Dawson's mistake lets in Ocampos, who shoots wide. Areola also has to make a smart save by his post to keep the score down.
Benrahma comes on after 67 minutes and makes a difference. Most notably when his deflected cross falls for Lanzini, who is foiled by a heroic block from Navas.
The game ends at 1-0 and it's been a mature, controlled performance against the six-time winners of the Europa League - though as at Liverpool it's marred by a lack of cutting edge. Still, with Bowen back and a hostile home crowd we will surely give them a game at the London Stadium. Irons!
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