Police ready for Chelsea tie
WEST HAM will have police inside London Stadium for the first time when Chelsea visit in their potentially explosive EFL Cup tie on Wednesday night. Despite a failure to install the correct radio systems inside the ground, officers will be deployed for the derby. West Ham have asked for a police presence when 5,182 supporters from their cross-city rivals visit in the former Olympic Stadium’s biggest test so far. The history of animosity between West Ham and Chelsea supporters led to all parties agreeing on a need to tighten up security measures. Police entered the stadium to deal with incidents towards the end of West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough earlier this month but this will be the first time they have been stationed inside from kick-off. West Ham will be without striker Andy Carroll for the game after another injury setback. Manager Slaven Bilic revealed yesterday that Carroll, 27, has failed to hit rehabilitation targets for the knee injury which has sidelined him for more than two months. Bilic said: ‘We are all very frustrated. It’s a killer blow knowing how good an influence he was last year for us. ‘I thought he would miss one game, against Bournemouth. To still be without him — it’s a massive blow for us. Originally it was four to six weeks and we were fuming about it, it was a shocking prognosis. But now it’s way longer than that. ‘He’s progressing but it’s slower than we expected.’ Carroll has only completed the full 90 minutes in a Premier League game six times in 2016. ‘It’s difficult because he loves football,’ added Bilic. ‘He loves to train. He’s not one of those for who it’s just a job.’ West Ham’s £20.5million summer signing Andre Ayew is close to a return after his spell out with a thigh injury.