Tomas Soucek scored a late winner as West Ham secured their place in the Europa League knockout stage at Serbian side Backa Topola.
It had been a turgid display from David Moyes’ side with only one shot on target until Soueck met Maxwel Cornet’s cross for his fifth goal in his past five games for club and country.
The goal means West Ham have scored in 20 successive European games, winning 18 and losing only once.
It leaves Moyes’ side top of Group A and they only need a point against Freiburg on 14 December to earn top spot, and avoid a play-off in February against a side finishing third in their Champions League group.
Hammers’ squad depth to be tested
West Ham have had plenty of famous European nights over the past two years.
Despite the late winner, this will not go down as one of them.
Their performance was often slow and ponderous, likely down to the seven changes Moyes had made from their Premier League win at Burnley on Saturday.
This game marked the start of a run of 10 games, in three competitions, between now and the end of the year, so the below-par performance may concern Moyes, with his squad depth likely to be used throughout that period.
Injuries to influential duo Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio are damaging and they need more from other senior players.
Said Benrahma had the sole shot on target before the goal, but was quiet, and Danny Ings, who came off the bench halfway through the second half, is currently on the longest goal drought of his career, at 24 games.
Cornet was another introduction off the bench, and his cross for the winner was delightful, and he, and Moyes, will be hoping this is a moment that sparks his West Ham career.
After being Europa League semi-finalists in 2022 and winning the Europa Conference League last season, a third successive season in European knockout football represents further progress for Moyes, but it may leave questions about the options West Ham have at their disposal.
