Andy Carroll using his strength for the first time, trapping the ball with a beautiful touch but the Englishman is hauled down on the edge of the box by Kenan Horic.

The Bosnian defender very lucky not to be cautioned there.

Debutant Sofiane Feghouli standing over the ball...

Image source, Reuters

Bradley Allen
Former QPR striker on BBC Radio London

West Ham didn't qualify for the Europa League last season but it was a blessing in disguise. They had a very strong second half of the season in the Premier League and can they cope with six more group games on top of the league? We will have to see this year. Hopefully.

They certainly need another striker in the building. Sofiane Feghouli plays tonight, he will become a firm favourite with the fans, 

Around three sides of this stadium is empty, so it's rather quiet. You can probably pick out what the players are saying to each other on the pitch.

Hopefully, the contest does not turn into a testimonial type match.

Bosnian defender and skipper Kenan Horic comes across to the left with a perfectly-timed sliding tackle to stop the juggernaut Michael Antonio in his tracks.

A confidence-boosting challenge.

Europa League - important or a distraction?

This, from a West Ham fan:

Under way at the Stozice Stadium in Ljubljana.

The match has been moved to the 16,000 seater stadium in Slovenia's capital as NK Domzale's own home ground is deemed too small.

Image source, Reuters

There are 29 ties in total taking place tonight, with Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen in action too against Maribor of Slovenia. You can follow that here.

Qualifying also brings out some cracking team names with Admira Wacker Modling, Torpedo Zhodino and my favourite Pandurii Targu Jiu all in action.

How's your European football knowledge? Any idea where these sides are from?

Europa League - important or a distraction?

james: It is a painful, pointless and endless series of games.

Craig Norris: Early rounds are too much but the prize is worth it. Should go back to knockout only but we know @UEFA, external will lose money over it

Tijn: It honestly should be treated as a major trophy, brilliant clubs participate and the chance of CL helps as well. #bbcfootball, external

Image source, NK Domzale

There's always a quirky story surrounding minnows in European competition and NK Domzale are no different...

The club were looking for an "offensive right-back" who "must have an EU passport" so posted an advert on online networking service LinkedIn.

After receiving 150 applicants, Spanish defender Alvaro Brachi was the chosen one, following a one-week trial.

"We watched footage of the best candidates and analysed them," said the club's PR officer in February. "I believe we are the first club to find a player in this way."

Image source, WHUFC.com

Slovenian side NK Domzale have seen off Andorran side Lusitans and Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus to reach the third round.

According to a journalist based in the country, this match is "the biggest" in the club's history.

Joze Okorn also told West Ham's website:, external "The champions Olimpija Ljubljana went out in the second round of Champions League qualifiers this year, so this is one of the biggest matches in Slovenian club football this season," “English football is so popular in Slovenia – it’s the top level of football for us, so it is a really big game."

Image source, Getty Images

What's going on with West Ham in the transfer market?

Apart from a permanent deal for midfielder Manuel Lanzini and Gokhan Tore on loan, the club have dealt in free transfers, bringing in midfielders Harvard Nordtveit and Sofiane Feghouli and striker Ashley Fletcher.

A deal for AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca seems to be off as Barcelona have entered the race to sign the Colombian, report The Sun., external

It's all gone quiet on the Alexandre Lacazette front too and none of the Euros boys are in action tonight.

Will boss Slaven Bilic off any deals before the 31 August transfer deadline?

So, what do we make of the Europa League then?

Worth the effort as you can claim a Champions League spot if you win it or a distraction to more important issues?

This will be of particular interest to West Ham, Manchester United and Southampton supporters.

Send in your views to #bbcfootball, external or text in on 81111 (UK only). Remember to put names on texts.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic on BBC London: "We want to try, we want to take the risk and progress in this competition.

"We are going to do everything we can to qualify."

Image source, Getty Images

It's a long road to Solna in Sweden if West Ham want to get to this season's Europa League final.

The group stages of the competition are not even in sight yet for the Hammers.

They will have to negotiate their way through two legs in this third qualifying round, before a further home and away leg tie in the play-off round.

Image source, Getty Images

You're probably all wondering, who are these minnows? Well, West Ham United play in the Prem...only kidding.

Nogometni Klub (NK) Domzale finished third in the Slovenian league last year and have already made it through the first and second rounds in qualifying.

They won back-to-back domestic titles in 2007 and 2008, but have not won a trophy since picking up the domestic cup in 2011.

Around 3,000 fans will be packed into Sports Park, Domzale this evening, which is 764 miles away from London.

Right-back Alvaro Brachi starts for NK Domzale, more on him later. Juninho, not that one...or that one, is on the bench.

NK Domzale XI: Maraval, Brachi, Horic, Dobrovoljc, Balkovec, Alvir, Horvat, Majer, Morel, Crnic, Mance

A strong West Ham line-up sees West Ham debuts for Havard Nordtveit at centre-back and winger Sofiane Feghouli. Andy Carroll is the lone man up top.

West Ham XI: Adrian, Antonio, Nordtveit, Reid, Byram, Obiang, Kouyate, Feghouli, Noble, Valencia, Carroll

Image source, Getty Images

Been suffering from Competitive Football Withdrawal Syndrome? Me too. Portugal winning the Euros seems a long time ago.

Although we are still in July, the new season is already under way for some teams as competitive football action returns. Waheyyy.

It's West Ham who have drawn the short straw, though, after finishing their season only 75 days ago and have now have now had to make the trip to Slovenia to face NK Domzale.

Image source, Getty Images