West Ham United face an uphill task to progress in the Europa League after they fell to a 2-1 defeat to NK Domzale.
Matic Crnic and Mark Noble scored penalties for either side during the first 18 minutes before a terrific second from Crnic earned his team a deserved win.
The second leg will take place at the Olympic Stadium next Thursday.
Read below to see how the action unfolded in Slovenia.
6.46pmHello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Europa League third qualifying round between NK Domzale and West Ham United.
6.49pmTwelve months ago, West Ham were preparing for a tie in this stage of the Europa League with high hopes of making it through to the group stages but they came unstuck against Romanian side Astra Giurgu. Ever since that two-legged contest, the Hammers have been superb and they now have another opportunity to go further in a competition which they will feel like they are capable of winning should they come through the qualifying rounds.
6.53pmThis time around, NK Domzale provide the opposition as West Ham make the trip to Slovenia and while they should not pose the same kind of threat as Astra, they have played four competitive games to reach this round and they will not be pushovers in front of their own supporters.
6.54pmWithout further ado, let's start taking a look at the team news that is coming from the changing rooms at the Stozice Stadium.
6.55pmWEST HAM UNITED XI: Adrian, Antonio, Nordtveit, Reid, Byram, Obiang, Kouyate, Feghouli, Noble, Valencia, Carroll
6.57pmWEST HAM UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Randolph, Burke, Oxford, Page, Cullen, Quina, Fletcher
7.01pmLast year, Bilic took the opportunity to field a number of youngsters in his Europa League starting lineups but with many of his first-team players having enjoyed several weeks of pre-season training and friendlies, he is able to select a much stronger side this evening. Nordtveit and Feghouli both make their debuts while Carroll leads the attack having been given the nod over Fletcher. Oxford has been linked with a move away from the club but he is named among the substitutes.
7.06pmDimitri Payet and James Collins are still unavailable for selection after France and Wales advanced through to the latter stages of Euro 2016 and Aaron Cresswell has been ruled out until Christmas through injury but all in all, that's a solid team and one which Bilic will expect to score a couple of away goals. There is plenty of creativity all over the pitch and Bilic will be bitterly disappointed if his side don't register a positive result this evening.
7.07pmAnother player missing for the Hammers this evening is Gokhan Tore. It has just been revealed that he picked up a knock in training.
7.10pmNK DOMZALE XI: Maraval, Brachi, Horic, Dobrovoljc, Balkovec, Alvir, Horvat, Majer, Morel, Crnic, Mance
7.11pmNK DOMZALE SUBSTITUTES: Milic, Vetrih, Juninho, Vuk, Repas, Sirok, Blazic
7.14pmUnless you are a hardcore follower of Slovenian football, you are unlikely to recognise too many of the Domzale starting lineup. If you were wondering about the name of Juninho on the bench, it is not the same one who used to play for Lyon. You probably knew that already but I was just making sure...
7.18pmDuring the build-up to this game, Bilic acknowledged that he was still active in the transfer market as he looked to strengthen his squad ahead of the new campaign. Click here to see what he had to say.
7.21pmIn preparation for tonight's fixture, West Ham have played as many as five friendlies since July 6 but it is fair to say that they have all not gone to plan. Head over to our results page here to check out all of the stats and match reports.
7.28pmWe mentioned earlier that Domzale had already come through a couple of rounds of qualifying so let's bring you a few more details about their run so far...
In the opening round, they were drawn with Andorran side Lusitanos and although they came through by a 5-2 aggregate scoreline, they would have been expecting to make lighter work of the minnows. It was even tighter in the second round as they edge past Belarusian outfit Shakhtyor by a 3-2 scoreline, with the decisive goal in that tie coming 20 minutes from time in the second leg.
With their opponents sitting in second place in their domestic league, that was quite the scalp for Domzale and they will be on a high when they take to the pitch tonight.
7.32pmThis was the scene in Slovenia not so long ago. I'm sure those stands will be filled in 10 minutes or so.
Time to warm up 🏃 #DOMWHU #COYI pic.twitter.com/NZxiuBudkF
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) July 28, 2016
7.36pmPREDICTION! West Ham boast the star names while Domzale will possess the superior sharpness so this isn't a particularly easy one to call. However, we are hopeful that West Ham's class will eventually shine through and they will leave Slovenia with a 2-1 win.
7.42pmWell that stand you saw earlier is most definitely not full but that's because it is the away end. There are some West Ham fans in attendance but in their tens rather than their hundreds. Anyway, the two teams have made their way out onto the pitch and we should be underway very shortly.
1 minDomzale get the game started. It's a very sparse crowd in Slovenia...
3 minThe first lung-busting run from Antonio ends with Horic getting across to produce a well-timed tackle on the left flank. It's been a fairly positive start from both sides but no chances of note so far.
5 minHow is that not a yellow card? Carroll holds onto the ball before a sharp turn past Horic results in the defender having to haul down the striker just before he entered the penalty area.
7 minThe resulting free kick caused all sorts of problems inside the Domzale penalty area but West Ham were unable to get a shot on goal. An acrobatic punch from Maraval put paid to any threat that the Premier League side offered.
9 minCarroll is causing Domzale all sorts of problems but the defenders have seemingly been told to go in hard on the targetman. On two occasions, he has been cynically been put on his backside and they look to be trying to get a reaction out of him.
10 minPENALTY TO DOMZALE!
11 minGOAL! NK Domzale 1-0 West Ham United (Crnic)
11 minWest Ham have dominated the opening exchanges but they have fallen behind in Slovenia! After a mistake from Antonio, Domzale broke forward in numbers and the attack ended with Nordtveit hand-balling a goal-bound effort. It's slightly harsh but you can see why the referee has given it. From the resulting spot kick, Crnic sent the ball into the corner, just out of the reach of Adrian.
13 minBOOKING! Nordtveit received a yellow card for his troubles for the penalty incident and Alvir has joined him for a late challenge. It's all happening.
16 minPENALTY TO WEST HAM!
18 minGOAL! NK Domzale 1-1 West Ham United (Noble)
18 minI was just about to make a comment about Domzale conceding seven or eight fouls in the opening 15 minutes and their latest offence has resulted in West Ham netting an equaliser. A header into the box was met by Reid but after beating the goalkeeper to the ball, he was taken out and it's an easy decision for the official. Noble then stepped up to fire the ball down the centre and the Hammers have an away goal.
22 minThe intensity of the game has decreased since the equaliser and that's probably a good thing. Tackles have been flying in all over the pitch and West Ham could do with keeping out of any confrontations. This game is there for the taking if they play it right.
26 minIt's interesting to watch the blossoming partnership between Antonio and Feghouli on the right. Naturally, they are attack-minded players but they need to develop an understanding regarding who will slot back into the right-back position at times. It's an area which Domzale could look to expose.
29 minSHOT! As I just mentioned, Antonio gets caught out of position and it gives Crnic all the time in the world to create a shooting position for himself. He does well to cut inside onto his right foot but his effort towards the far corner just evades the far post.
31 minCHANCE! West Ham win the first corner of the match and it nearly leads to a second goal. Obiang's initial shot was blocked but his second went a yard wide of the post.
33 minCHANCE! What an unbelievable chance for Domzale to retake the lead! A quite exquisite cross from Balkovec found Alvir around eight yards from goal but despite no attention from a West Ham defender, he sent his free header wide of the target.
37 minTime and time again, Antonio is getting caught out and he has just conceded a free kick on the edge of his own box. Big moment here...
38 minSHOT! Morel takes on the responsibility and he almost finds the top corner but his effort curls just over the crossbar. The home team are growing in confidence here. West Ham could do with half time.
41 minWe haven't seen much of Valencia in this game but his twists and turns on the left earn his team a corner. From the resulting set piece, Nordtveit gets his head to the ball but it is never threatening the goal.
45 minThere will be one minute of added-on time. Domzale are pushing for a second and have forced a couple of corners.
45+2 minHALF TIME: NK Domzale 1-1 West Ham United
8.33pmThe half-time whistle goes in Slovenia and West Ham have reached the break on level terms with a lively NK Domzale. Both goals have come from the penalty spot but there have been plenty of chances for more from open play. The Hammers are going to have to grind out a result if they want to return to East London with an advantage.
46 minWe are back underway in Slovenia. It was a little short of the scheduled 15 minutes. Maybe the referee has somewhere to be...
48 minCHANCE! West Ham have started this second half brightly and a neat lay-off from Obiang sees Noble get a volley in on goal but it's straight at the goalkeeper.
49 minGOAL! NK Domzale 2-1 West Ham United (Crnic)
49 minThis is an absolute shocker of a goal for West Ham to concede. It again involves Antonio getting caught out of position and Crnic takes full advantage, cutting inside onto his right foot and finding the bottom corner of Adrian's net.
53 minLosing by a single goal would not be a disaster for West Ham but they certainly cannot afford to lose by two. Domzale are a very capable side, especially when they are being given all of the encouragement in the world to attack down the left flank.
56 minThere are already signs of frustration within the Hammers side. They are looking for an immediate response but they need to avoid playing into the hands of their opponents.
59 minSAVE! Antonio AGAIN is left well out of position and Balkovec is able to force Adrian into a save low down to his left. It may have evaded the far post but he wasn't to know that. West Ham are living very dangerously.
63 minCrnic is playing that well in this game that I can see him being snapped up by an English side before the end of the transfer window. His trickery is bamboozling the Hammers and he has a very useful left foot. I think West Ham are going to need a second away goal here before they are coming under attack from the home side and they look like extending their lead.
67 minThe West Ham substitutes are out warming up. There's not a whole lot of experience available. Carroll is fading a touch but the Hammers need him for set pieces.
70 minThere are 20 minutes remaining in Slovenia. West Ham are behind but they may want the full-time whistle to come sooner rather than later. Some of the Hammers players look a bit heavy-legged now.
74 minAs expected, it's Domzale who are trying to force the pace rather than West Ham. They recognise that their opponents are starting to lag. Still no alterations, however.
77 minSHOT! West Ham are completely out on their feet. They need fresh legs. Kouyate just about clears the danger inside his own box but the ball falls to Majer, who lets fly from 25 yards and sees Adrian tip the ball over the crossbar.
80 minSUBSTITUTION! Antonio is finally replaced by Quina, who is predominately an attacker. Can he have a positive impact during the closing stages?
83 minCrnic continues to terrorise the Hammers defence and he looks through on goal before Noble gets back to divert his shot over the crossbar. The sweat is dripping off the West Ham players here.
87 minThe game is becoming increasingly stretched as West Ham look for an equaliser but surely it is the wrong approach. Mance almost gets on the end of a long clearance and Domzale aren't going to settle for 2-1. They want more.
89 minCHANCE! Has Adrian just saved his side's Europa League campaign? Crnic's long-range effort was well saved but tipped into the path of Vetrih, who is all on his own and about four yards out, However, Adrian gets himself in the way and diverts the ball wide of the post. It's an unreal intervention.
90+1 minWe are a minute in three minutes of added-on time. Can West Ham hang on to a narrow defeat?
90+3 minFULL TIME: NK Domzale 2-1 West Ham United
9.41pmThe full-time whistle goes in Slovenia and West Ham have fallen to a 2-1 to NK Domzale. However, the Hammers may be relieved to have avoided a heavier defeat to their hosts after they were second-best throughout the second half. All eyes now turn to the Olympic Stadium next Thursday.
9.46pmThat will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again for the second leg next week. Goodbye for now.
