By Mark Heys
October 25 2005

Bolton are to begin their Carling Cup campaign tommorow evening as they face a home tie against their Premiership rivals West Ham United.

It will be the first time in eleven years that the two clubs have met in this competition as back in November 1994 the then Division 1 side Bolton pulled off a fine 3-1 win over Premiership West Ham at Upton Park to continue their giantkilling record against top flight clubs.

Of course a lot of changes have been made since those days as both sides are now on the same footing in the top flight and looking to remain in and amongst the clubs chasing for European qualification.

Another source of qualifying for Europe is to win the Carling Cup outright. Bolton are twice beaten finalists, the last time coming two seasons ago when Middlesbrough proved a hurdle too far at the Millennium Stadium. West Ham have also reached the finals on two occasions with the last time coming 24 years ago when under the management of John Lyall.

Both sides have met once already this season in an exciting Premiership game as Kevin Nolan and Ivan Campo gave Bolton victory at the end of August. Veteran Hammers striker Teddy Sheringham's late consolation set up a nervy finish.

Bolton are expected to make a number of changes for this game as Ian Walker, Fabrice Fernandes, Jared Borgetti, Radhi Jaidi and Ricardo Vaz-Te could come into contention.

Ivan Campo, Nicky Hunt and Jay-Jay Okocha are still on the injury list but Stelios Giannakopoulos and Henrik Pedersen have shaken off recent niggles. Jamaican wing back Ricardo Gardner returns from a suspension served against West Brom.

Youngsters Jarostaw Fojut, Bedi Buval and Chris Howarth will also be looking to be involved at first team level after being in the squad for the recent UEFA Cup matches..

The Hammers will be without regular goalkeeper Roy Carroll after the former Wigan Athletic and Manchester United stopper suffered a knee injury recently when getting his boot studs caught in the goal netting. Veteran Shaka Hislop is once again expected to add cover after keeping goal in the weekend win over Middlesbrough.

Anton Ferdinand, Matthew Etherington and Paul Konchesky are all doubtful so the likes of James Collins, Elliott Ward and Shaun Newton have a chance to be involved.

LEAGUE CUP RECORD

30/11/1994 WEST HAM UNITED 1 (Cottee) BOLTON WANDERERS 3 (McGinlay 2, Lee)

04/09/1968 WEST HAM UNITED 7 (Hurst 3, Peters, Sissons, Brooking, Redknapp)BOLTON WANDERERS 2 (Wharton, Taylor)

11/10/1967 WEST HAM UNITED 4 (Hurst 4) BOLTON WANDERERS 1 (Byrom)

LEAGUE CUP FORM GUIDE:

Played: 3

Won: 1

Drawn: 0

Lost: 2

CONNECTIONS

Steve Banks, Franz Carr, David Cross, Les Ferdinand, Harry Kinsell.

IT HAPPENED WHEN BOLTON PLAYED THE HAMMERS

Dutchman Jeroen Boere missed a hatful of chances when these two sides last met in the competition. The lanky Hammers forward later went on to play for Southend United and was tragically blinded in one eye in an off field incident in the late 1990's.