Hammers go to Gent

THE road to Prague opened up to West Ham yesterday as they got a good draw against Belgian side Gent in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals. It brought back memories of the Hammers’ triumphant 1964-65 European Cup Winners’ Cup run, which started with a 2-1 aggregate win against Gent.

Boss David Moyes will hope that is a good omen. Should West Ham beat Gent they will face Anderlecht or AZ Alkmaar, with bookies making them favourites to lift the trophy. ‘You can never tell with football,’ said Moyes. ‘I would never be presumptuous to think that’s the case because we need to improve. I need to get us closer to our levels.’ West Ham, who have won all 10 European games this season, travel to Gent on Thursday, April 13, before the second leg at home the following week.