Bilic concluded: “I know the Romanian league, being from Croatia, and I know how good Romanian teams can be”, and he was full adamant “OK, maybe they sold a few players, but I’m expecting a tough game”.
Advertisement
Astra wasted a good chance for a 72nd-minute equaliser, when Alibec shot straight at Randolph after being played clean through into the area by Fabricio’s fine pass, as they continued to probe the visiting defence without much success.
West Ham’s £20million record signing Andre Ayew could be sidelined until Christmas with a thigh injury.
Backed by 400 travelling fans in the 8,500-capacity Marin Anastasovici Stadium, West Ham shrugged off the evening heat to press for a quick opener and perhaps settle any lingering nerves from last year’s embarrassment.
Bilic is already without another new signing, Sofiane Feghouli, through injury for the Astra clash along with Aaron Cresswell and Manuel Lanzini, although he hopes the latter will be available in a week or so.
“We should have scored and put the game to bed, but we didn’t and it’s 1-1 so we’re not happy with the result, but it’s not a bad result because we had a mixed team”.
Bilic is taking the Europa League seriously this season despite admitting it could affect his side’s Premier League form.
The East Londoners will be away for the first leg against the side they were knocked out to last season on Thursday August 18, with the return leg at the Olympic Stadium on August 25.
“We have another game, we have an away goal but a massive game on Sunday against Bournemouth”.
West Ham did however, lead for a large portion of the game following Noble scoring this penalty. “The only question-mark is jet-lag, so we’ll see on Thursday”.
With Payet on the bench for West Ham in their opener they failed to cause Chelsea too many problems, but when the mercurial Frenchman plays they’re a different prospect. We are two games from the group stages and we want to participate.
Crime didn’t pay – not in the long run, anyway – for Astra Giurgiu manager Marius Sumudica, who is banned from all football-related activities for two months after being found guilty of a betting offence.
Advertisement
Calleri, who was the top scorer in last year’s Copa Libertadores with Sao Paulo, joins from Uruguayan club Deportivo Maldonado.
