West Ham United 2-1 Chelsea: Hammers progress into quarter-finals of EFL Cup

Full-time: West Ham United 2-1 Chelsea

All over! A cracking cup tie, that. And the final score was a fair reflection of the game, I feel.

West Ham played some really eye-catching stuff at times and will now be looking forward to the next round. Sadly, I fear the crowd trouble shortly before full-time will distract from their excellence.

Thanks for joining us this evening! Until next time...

GOAL: West Ham United 2-1 Chelsea (Cahill)

Chelsea have one back in the final few seconds - but it's destined to be immaterial. Gary Cahill scores the goal, poking it home from close range.

The trouble in the crowd appears to be escalating, sadly.

Four additional minutes are being played.

And I'm sad to report fights appear to be breaking out behind the West Ham goal. The police are on the scene, trying to calm things down. We'll keep you posted on that.

Another late chance goes begging for the Blues. This time, Willian's dinked free-kick is met by the head of John Terry, but the skipper's effort goes just wide of the post.

Moments later, Hazard goes down under a tackle from Winston Reid, looking for a penalty. His appeals are waved away, though, and the Hammers survive.

Tick-tock, tick-tock... West Ham are within sight of the finishing post, here.

Diego Costa has fluffed Chelsea's best chance of the game!

The Spain international is played through by Willian, but his effort to lift the ball over Randolph dribbles agonisingly wide of the post. That could be Chelsea's last chance of redemption.

Up at the other end now... Payet delivers a delicious cross from the wing, but the returning Ayew can't quite wrap his neck muscles around it. That would have been a memorable return for the striker.

Costa slips in Hazard now, but his strike crashes against the outside of the post and away to safety. This is much, much better from the Blues - but a case of too little, too late? We'll see...

Back-to-back corners now for Chelsea, who are trying to exert some kind of pressure. But their efforts breakdown when Hazard fails to control the ball.

Seconds later, Randolph palms away a cross from the marauding Gary Cahill. One-way stuff for the time being.

Another change for West Ham, with Andre Ayew making his return in place of Lanzini. He gets a warm welcome from the home supporters, who know their side are within touching distance of the next round.

Chelsea have spurned their best opening of the half. Diego Costa leads a break into the Hammers' box and lays the ball back to Willian, but the wideman makes a total hash of it and the ball is dragged across the goal.

The deadlock has been broken at Old Trafford, meanwhile. Want to know who has scored it? See for yourself, eh...

Chelsea are struggling to create anything of note and time is fast running out for them here.

A flat corner from Hazard is backheeled, Gianfranco Zola-style, into the side-netting by Oscar. That would have been a brilliant goal, but it wasn't to be for the Brazilian.

It's all gone a bit flat from a Chelsea viewpoint.

Meanwhile, Fernandes has made way for Sofiane Feghouli for the Hammers. Chelsea are making a switch, too, with Aina being replaced by Pedro. That's all three subs burnt for the away side.

Less than an hour to go and here is the expected change. Hazard comes on for Chalobah. The Belgian has less than 30 minutes to make an impact - but Chelsea are rolling the dice now. Nothing to lose at this stage.

His first involvement in the game sees him fouled by Mark Noble and the West Ham skipper goes into the book.

Time for Eden Hazard, surely? The Belgian was brilliant against Manchester United at the weekend and would offer Chelsea something different.

Time is running out on Chelsea's EFL Cup campaign, as it stands. You need to make some decisions, Mr Conte.

Chelsea don't appear to be as threatening in this second half as they were in the first, to be honest. Their latest attack sees David Luiz overhit a pass for Diego Costa.

West Ham are grabbing this game by the scruff of the neck, with Noble firing wide from distance just now.

A Chelsea change is on the way - and it's not before time, too. Diego Costa comes on for the largely ineffective Michy Batshuayi.

This game might just be done and dusted before Conte turns to his big-name players on the Chelsea bench. I wonder if the Italian regrets not fielding a stronger side tonight, because remember, Chelsea are not playing European football this season.

Anyway, they still have 30-odd minutes to save themselves, so perhaps I'm typing too soon.

GOAL: West Ham United 2-0 Chelsea (Fernandes)

The Hammers double their lead and that could be the match-winner!

Edimilson Fernandes finds the net with a low, accurate effort that creeps into the far corner from just outside the box. The goal came after Begovic made a brilliant last-ditch save to deny Payet, but Chelsea never managed to clear the ball.

Right then, the two teams re-emerge for the second half. Chelsea have 45 minutes to save their bacon in their competition.

We're back under way - hold on to your proverbial hats!

A quick reminder of the Chelsea bench before the second half gets back under way at the London Stadium: Eduardo, Alonso, Matic, Hazard, Pedro, Diego Costa, Solanke

I wonder how long before we see Hazard and Costa?

The game at Old Trafford kicked off at 8pm, by the way, so why not nip over there to see the score? I won't ruin it for you...

Half-time: West Ham United 1-0 Chelsea

What a cracking 45 minutes of football that was, and it ends with Oscar's mishit shots just going agonisingly past the post.

More the same in the second period? Yes, please.

The hosts have another escape, as Michy Batshuayi finishes horribly after a first-time cross from Oscar in the inside left channel. The Belgian should have at least got that effort on target - and he knows it.

One minute of time to be added.

Obiang lets fly from distance and his powerful effort is smartly saved by Begovic down to his right side. That was really travelling.

Now Payet tries another eye-catching backheel out on the touchline and falls flat on his face this time. It happens to the best of us, I suppose. Five minutes to go until half-time at the London Stadium.

Payet almost makes it two from a tight angle! The Frenchman surprises everyone by going for goal from a free-kick out on the left flank, but Begovic just tips it away from danger.

One-time Hammers transfer target Michy Batshuayi makes half a yard for himself near the West Ham goal, but his effort is easily saved by Randolph.

Chelsea need to get the highly-rated Belgian into the game a bit more, though. He's feeding on scraps a bit at the minute.

A chance goes begging for the hosts in this eye-catching game. This time, Antonio makes a smart break up the flank and passes the ball across to Lanzini, but he gets his effort wrong and the ball spins across the face of the goal.

Kante makes another break forwards, playing a one-two on the edge of the Hammers' box. It appears to open up for him, but rather than shooting at goal, the midfielder decides to try a cutback. The wrong decision, that.

Antonio, who is outside the box on the left side, looks up at goal and decides to let fly... but he didn't catch that at all.

There is an unmistakable buzz of anticipation every time Payet gets the ball for West Ham. The Frenchman is capable of magic, but his latest break fizzles out.

Willian and Oscar combine down the left side. Eventually, the younger of the two (Oscar) plays the ball across the face of the goal, but no-one is there for Chelsea to tap home.

This is already a cracking cup tie, with plenty of ebb and flow - and a corking atmosphere too.

Up at the other end, the impressive Chalobah lets go with a dipping, swerving effort from distance that the keeper does well to tip over the bar.

Willian's subsequent corner is easily cleared, though.

Chelsea started the game brightly but are already beginning to wobble. The Blues are being stretched in these opening 20 minutes and could easily be 2-0 down already in truth.

Ah, West Ham appeal for a penalty but there;s nothing doing for the hosts!

The ball comes across the area to Payet, who prepares to pull the trigger before Kante trips him to the ground. Or did he?! The ref says no and we play on. I think Chelsea are lucky.

GOAL: West Ham United 1-0 Chelsea (Kouyaté)

The Hammers hit the front against the run of play!

Cheikhou Kouyaté is the man with the goal - and what a goal for the hosts! The Senegal star thumps a left-sided cross from deep into the top corner with his head.

The London Stadium is in full voice now.It's Upton Park-like, in fact.

Kante makes a forward run for the Blues and the space just opened up for the Frenchman before his goal-bound effort was well stopped by Randolph in the West Ham goal. That could've been two goals in two for the Premier League-winning midfielder.

As ever, Antonio Conte is on the touchline barking instructions to his side. The Italian is super-animated despite his side making a decent start to the game.

West Ham have a free-kick on the right side. Payet stands over it before delivering a dipping, swerving centre - but there's a foul in the middle and the Blues' cleansheet remains intact.

Chelsea - who have started brightly - win an early corner. Willian delivers it but the returning John Terry heads over. The first significant touch for the Chelsea skipper, that.

Oscar comes up with a neat little dribble on the left side and he finds Willian. But his Brazilian counterpart is overly-ambitious with his forward pass and a promising move breaks down.

The atmosphere is unreal, by the way.

The captains go through their pre=match ritual. Both teams in their traditional colours.

Anddddddddd... we're under way at the London Stadium!

The last few fans appear to be taking their seats at the Olympic Stad... I mean, the London Stadium. The stage is set and kick-off is almost upon us.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte recently explained what he expects from his three-man defence ahead of John Terry's return for the EFL Cup fourth round.

The coach made his mark at Juventus and the Italian national team with a 3-4-3 formation. However, Conte was forced to abandon that system for his first games at Chelsea after starting the campaign with just two fit centre-halves in John Terry and Gary Cahill.

"The central defenders on the right and the left must be very fast and aggressive. The players that play in the middle of the three defenders must be more tactical, must reflect more and find the right position, and also call the line up and down," Conte explained to the Chelsea website.

"In these last three games we did very well. It's normal when you play with the same players."

Half an hour to go until kick off in what must be the biggest game in West Ham's brief history at this stadium. The crowd is certain to be well up for it - let's just hope it's not taken too far.

Both teams have arrived and are going through their last-minute preparations. Remember, the game is due to begin at 19:45pm - and it ought to be a cracker under the floodlights.

As a reminder, we're also on top of the Manchester derby tonight and the team news has just been released at Old Trafford. I won't ruin the surprise, so you can head here to find out who plays and who doesn't.

All eyes will be on John Terry tonight. Despite all that he has achieved, the skipper will still feel like he has a point to prove. And he probably does.

Chelsea have been in good form in recent weeks, when Terry has been on the sidelines with his injury. Mind you, Terry has proven people wrong before and it'd be a brave man who writes him off...

Breaking team news

John Terry is back for the Blues, and he lines up alongside Cahill and Luiz. Chalobah also gets a much-deserved opportunity, while Willian is back in the team.

West Ham United: Randolph, Kouyate, Reid, Ogbonna, Fernandes, Obiang, Noble, Cresswell, Lanzini, Payet, Antonio

Subs: Adrian, Nordtveit, Feghouli, Zaza, Collins, Ayew, Fletcher

Chelsea: Begovic, David Luiz, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Kante, Chalobah, Aina, Willian, Batshuayi, Oscar

Subs: Eduardo, Alonso, Matic, Hazard, Pedro, Diego Costa, Solanke

The crowd is slowly starting to fill up inside the much-discussed London Stadium. Team news will be with us any second, but here's a bit of a scene-setter to kill the last few seconds of waiting.

While we wait for the all-important team news to drop, some evidence of the extra security measures around the London Stadium tonight. If we hear of any trouble - and let's hope there isn't any - we'll be sure to bring you news of that, too.

And what of Chelsea? Well, John Terry is fit to start in the EFL Cup fourth round at West Ham after he made the bench in the last two Premier League victories over Leicester City and Manchester United.

"He's fit to start, he's in good shape," Conte said although failing to confirm whether he will regain his starting role in the line-up. "Tomorrow I will decide the starting 11 but John's fit and he's been training well".

"We know for sure that it's a tough game but all the players are ready to play a good game. I hope to see a good atmosphere. I know these two teams are big rivals and in England the atmosphere is always fantastic at matches."

West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic admitted yesterday that he was still undecided about the team he will select to play Chelsea. The Hammers manager has promised to field a strong side against their cross-city rivals – but revealed he would wait until after their final training session before choosing his team.

"I said after the Sunderland game that we would have our strongest possible team. We will see at training today before we decide," he said during a pre-match press conference, according to West Ham's official Twitter account.

Prior to the game tonight, West Ham United and Chelsea supporters have been warned they will face a host of measures designed to minimise the risk of trouble at their EFL Cup match. Fans have been told they will be subject to body searches, alcohol restrictions and post-match segregation as part of the safety and security operation.

The Hammers' move to the London Stadium has been dogged by crowd trouble and there had been fears that the evening match against their cross-city rivals Chelsea could create additional problems. The two clubs have, therefore, issued a joint statement in which they have urged supporters to be prepared for stricter security measures.

"For the safety and security of all supporters there will be an enhanced body search policy at the turnstiles, so both home and away supporters are encouraged to arrive early to ensure quick access to the Stadium," a statement read on the West Ham website.

"The safety and security arrangements for both inside and outside London Stadium have been developed and agreed by all key stakeholders including the Club, [stadium operator] London Stadium 185 and E20 Stadium LLP. The Metropolitan Police Service have been working closely and effectively with them, will deal with crime and disorder and support all the stakeholders in making this a safe event.

"The Metropolitan Police Service has a tactical solution for matches being held at the London Stadium which will allow the safe deployment of officers into the stadium, if required, to deal with any crime or disorder."

Good evening and welcome to IBTimes UK's live coverage of the much-anticipated London derby between West Ham and Chelsea.

A quarter final place and local-ish bragging rights are on the line tonight, so it ought to be a cracker.

Build up and team news to follow, so stay tuned...