Now Jonathan Calleri does get his first touch - and he almost scores.

The Argentine pulls away at the back post and nods on Mark Noble's cross, which Astra goalkeeper Silviu Lung gets down to push away. It was sneaking in.

From the corner, the home side can clear their lines.

West Ham have not seen a sight of the Astra goal yet. Debutant Jonathan Calleri has not had a touch of the ball up front.

It's a very dry, patchy, bobbly pitch, so I don't think we will be seeing many  slick, passing moves from either side.

Former West Brom man Filipe Teixeira is the player with the first effort, but drags his shot wide of goal.

West Ham full-back Sam Byram is in for a tough evening with Teixeira playing on his side of the pitch.

Image source, Rex Features

No names on the back of the shirts of both sets of players. Going to be an interesting one. The West Ham fans that are here are singing their 'Bubbles' song.

Image source, Rex Features

The visiting side get us under way in Romania. Off we go.

Image source, Reuters

A reminder of the the teams...

West Ham XI: Randolph, Byram, Oxford, Ogbonna, Burke, Obiang, Noble, Antonio, Valencia, Tore, Calleri

Subs: Adrian, Collins, Reid, Kouyate, Browne, Fletcher, Carroll

Astra XI: Lung, Vangjeli, Alves, Fabricio, Junior Morais, Sapunaru, Lovin, Ionita, Seto, Filipe Teixeira, Niculae 

Subs: Gavrilas, Alibec, Florea, Oros, Mansaly, Stan, Balaure

Rich Carter: Mathieu Fla-Mini?

Craig Cartwright: Vauxhall Carlton Cole

Richard Pope: Nicky Banger - Oxford United  

Players are out on the pitch at a noisy Marin Anastosovici Stadium, where around 8,500 have packed in. One side of the stadium doesn't even have a stand.

Image source, Rex Features

West Ham have a big task on their hands...

Simon Thompson: Nigel Aston Martyn

John Forster: Charlie Austin Allegro

Glenn Burchnall: Jody Morris Minor

Image source, Rex Features

Astra boss Marius Sumudica is currently serving a six-month ban, external from all football activity, handed in March, for placing bets on several domestic and international matches.

Sumudica placed bets ranging from £430 to £775 on matches in the Romanian championship, the Champions League and the Europa League.

Imagine the scandal here if Claudio Ranieri was caught putting a cheeky fiver on Manchester United v Liverpool.

Niall Tasker: Steve MCLAREN as manager

Josh: Reece OxFORD

FPL_Fly: Fabrizio Rav4nelli

BBC Radio London

You can listen to coverage of this match now on BBC Radio London 94.9 or at the top of this page.

Ayew out for four monthspublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 18 August 2016

18:55 BST 18 August 2016

Astra Giurgiu v West Ham (19:15 BST)

Image source, Getty Images

Devastating news for West Ham before the new season has even got into full swing.

Striker Andre Ayew has been ruled out for four months following a thigh injury picked up in the opening Premier League match against Chelsea.

The 26-year-old Ghanaian's debut lasted just 33 minutes after signing from Swansea in the summer for £20.5m.

Michael Wake: Keisuke Honda is a must

Brian Wheele: 'SEAT' Leon McKenzie

Paul Clark: Au-Diafra Sakho

David Ornstein
BBC Sport

Breaking news...

Crystal Palace have reached an agreement with Liverpool to sign Belgium striker Christian Benteke.

The clubs have agreed a fee of £27m plus add-ons that could see it rise to above £30m.

Benteke is travelling to London to undergo a medical and finalise personal terms.

He will become Palace's all-time record signing by some distance.

Adrian Lui: A Lexus Sanchez

Riz Husain: Reliant Robin (Van Persie)

regan walsh: Karim Mercedes Benz-ema

Image source, Getty Images

Pedigree: Current Romanian Liga I champions, the first time they have won the domestic league title in their history.

British meetings: Were in the same Europa League group as Celtic two seasons ago and beat Inverness and West Ham in last season's qualifying.

Notable players:

• Cristian Sapunaru - Experienced Romanian international defender. Won the Europa League, three Portuguese league titles and three cups with Porto.
• Filipe Teixeira - Nomadic midfielder. Part of the West Brom side that finished top of the Championship in the 2007-08 season.
• Denis Alibec - Striker. Once of Inter Milan but only made two Serie A appearances.

Michael Ponchaud: Rolls Rhoys Wiggins

Tom Goldfarb: David Bentley

Jonathan Routledge: Bugatti Veron

Image source, Getty Images

Before we get to the serious stuff...

The name Astra Giurgiu got me thinking of today's get involved chat.

So, send in suggestions for: Your car XI

I'll start you off with former Everton and Italy defender Matteo Ferrari. Can we manage to get a full XI?

Tweet in using #bbcfootball, external or comment on the Match of the Day Facebook page, external.

Go, go, go.