Cheltenham Town v West Ham Betting: Will defensive vulnerabilities scupper Hammers' efforts?

After two straight defeats, West Ham United will be determined to get their season up and running when they take on Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road in Wednesday's League Cup clash.

Thrashed 4-0 by Manchester United before going down 3-2 to Southampton in their two opening Premier League games, the Hammers are priced at 2/5 (1.40) with dabblebet to get off the mark with a morale-boosting cup win.

Having knocked out League One Oxford United in the last round, the League Two hosts are available at 13/2 (7.50) to pull off an even bigger upset against their top flight opponents.

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Gary Johnson's team scored a 90th-minute equaliser before running out 4-3 extra-time winners in that clash, and there are odds of 4/1 (5.00) on them also ensuring this one is all square after normal time.

Despite the late Southampton penalty that saw them leave empty-handed, Slaven Bilic was keen to praise on his team's strength of character after they came back from two goals down with just 10 men following Marko Arnautovic's first-half dismissal.

However, the former Croatia boss must privately be rather concerned by the careless defending displayed by experienced players such as Jose Fonte and Pablo Zabaleta, both punished for clumsy challenges in the penalty area.

Goal

With new signing Joe Hart also looking less than convincing in goal, Bilic's backline is looking decidedly shaky at the start of this new campaign.

Signs of this defensive fragility were already evident in pre-season, when the London side conceded twice against Werder Bremen and three times against German non-league outfit Altona 93.

Having lost influential centre-back Winston Reid to injury at St Mary's, the Premier League guests could be there for the taking for a fired-up lower league side that scored four times in the last round.

While their superior attacking quality should shine through, odds of 5/6 (1.83) therefore seem generous on a jittery West Ham being joined on the scoresheet by the Robins.