David Moyes comfortable with West Ham favourites tag as Lyon exploit UEFA rule for secret weapon

Not even the most optimistic West Ham supporter would have envisaged such a remarkably speedy rise from relegation candidates to bonafide European competitors when David Moyes returned just over two years ago and sent many eyes rolling by announcing that winning is “what I do”. Yet here they are, the favourites in a Europa League quarter-final first leg against a team that was in the Champions League last four two years ago.

It feels like a lot of pressure for a squad lacking in experience. Kurt Zouma tasted many big European nights at Chelsea and Tomas Soucek has experienced the Champions League at Slavia Prague alongside injury doubt Vladimir Coufal. Apart from that this is a green group, enjoying the ride without being entirely sure of what is coming next.

They have risen to every challenge, the comeback against Sevilla to reach this stage a night to live in the memory forever.. But with each game the stakes rise a little higher and tonight is likely to be a bit more cagey, a wariness of the dynamic of being at home in the first leg setting in.

Moyes on injuries, what to expect from Lyon and inconsistent rules

At the training ground yesterday there was no sense of expectation weighing heavily. “I am pleased because normally if you're made favourites the people that do it are the bookies and they often make more money than they lose, I think,” Moyes said of the favourites’ tag.

“Overall we know that if you're going to be that you have to earn it and we have to show it. But I find that quite difficult considering we are relative newcomers. Lyon have loads of experience and I know they've had changes and difficult times but they are a really big club in France and we'll have our work cut out to get through.”

One of the