WATCH OUT FOR COSTA!

Ogbonna in cup warning to Hammers

I think whoever is more clever can win!”

Wednesday night’s game will be the first major test of security at the ground, with almost 5,200 travelling fans due to attend.

Extra police and stewards will be on duty following recent outbreaks of violence inside and outside the venue this season.

And Ogbonna is under no illusions just how big the game is. He said: “We have to prepare like it’s the last game of the season. We have to be focused for that game. We are playing in front of our own fans so the expectation is so high. We have to prepare well.”

Ogbonna played for Chelsea boss Antonio Conte at Juventus and the two remain close. But he insists friendship will go out of the window on Wednesday.

The Hammers defender said: “I have a really good relationship with Conte but I have to put it to one side. We have to keep on winning games.” A win continues to elude Sunderland, who have now gone nine games without one and are five points adrift at the foot of the table.

It’s their worst start to a Premier League season but manager David Moyes was furious Reid’s winner was allowed to stand as at least one West Ham player was standing in an offside position as it went it.

Midfielder Jack Rodwell was brutally honest afterwards, admitting Sunderland have gone backwards under Moyes this season.

He said: “They say it was offside after watching it again but it’s no excuse. He is free on the edge of the box. We switched off. It’s a horrible way to end the game really.

“It feels like everything is going against us. I’d like to say it’s early in the season but we’re getting on to the point now where we need to start getting back-to back wins.

“We’ve got a great manager here. We just need to do it on the pitch, the 11 players that go out.

“We have gone backwards but it’s only us that can put it right.”