West Ham United host Portsmouth in Round 1 of the EFL Cup. CheckLive has no favourite for this one, with no win-probability given, so it is being treated as a genuinely open tie. Both sides are starting their cup campaign here, and with no edge either way, a draw is a real possibility.
West Ham come into this in decent nick, unbeaten in five — two wins and three draws, including a 5-0 win over Stevenage and a 3-0 Premier League victory against Leeds United. Portsmouth have struggled for results, with no win in five: three draws and two defeats, most recently a 1-3 loss to Wycombe Wanderers and a 0-2 reverse at Aldershot Town. Most of these games were friendlies, so they should be read with some caution.
There is no head-to-head record in the facts, so history offers little guidance. The key thing to watch is whether West Ham's sharper recent form carries into a competitive tie, or whether Portsmouth's solid run of draws points to a result that goes the distance. With no favourite identified, a tight, even contest looks the most likely outcome.
