West Ham expect bumper crowd for firts game at new ground

 

The Hammers begin a new era in their new home when they host Slovenia's NK Domzale in the second leg of a Europa League third qualifying round tie.

Around 54,000 will see West Ham bid to overturn a 2-1 deficit but Bilic said: "It doesn't feel like a home game."

The Hammers left Upton Park at the end of last season to move to the stadium which hosted athletics at London 2012.

"We will do the same things - go for a meal, get on the coach, but instead of Upton Park, we'll be coming here in front of 54,000," added Bilic.

"There's no better way to adjust to a new stadium than playing in it."

West Ham need to win their first game at the Olympic Stadium, officially known as the London Stadium, to advance to the play-off round.

"We have a job to do and if we play better than what we did in the first leg we have a great chance of getting through," added Bilic.

"We can find excuses and were missing players, but we should have played much better.

"We are back home and it is a big game for us on Thursday night. We want to qualify for the next round."

KJ