Two former Premier League sides meet at the London Stadium in the first round of the Carabao Cup, as West Ham United take on Portsmouth at the London Stadium.
West Ham United will be playing in the Championship next season for the first time since the 2011/12 season, when they achieved playoff success against Blackpool at Wembley. The positive news for the Hammers this summer is that, despite the losses of Mateus Fernandes and Crysencio Summerville to Tottenham Hotspur & Al Hilal, respectively, they have largely retained the majority of their squad, including captain Jarrod Bowen.
The England international had 20 goal involvements in the Premier League last season, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists, for a team that was eventually relegated on the final day. Bowen has the skill and ability to tear up the Championship, plus he knows what is required to perform in this division, as he proved during his time with Hull City.
The Hammers have had a strong pre-season despite the departures, with the home side unbeaten in their last five matches, including four this summer and having beaten Leeds United on the final day of last season, all to no avail.
Portsmouth finished 18th in the Championship last season, but away from home, Pompey only won six of their 23 league matches, so they will be unfancied underdogs against a newly relegated West Ham United boasting Premier League quality. Portsmouth have bolstered their striker department with the signing of Marko Milovanovic from Spanish side Almeria. Milovanovic spent last season at Alverca in Portugal and scored nine league goals in 18 starts.
Portsmouth are without a win in their last five matches, and with West Ham performing well in pre-season, the Hammers should be able to overcome the challenge of the visitors.
West Ham 3-1 Portsmouth
