Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of tonight's Premier League clash between West Ham United and Burnley!

So we're fast approaching Christmas, which means one thing - lots and lots of football! Tonight's midweek game at the London Stadium is a battle between two sides in the lower half of the table, though it can be said that they're looking in different directions.

The Hammers are 17th in the table, just one point above the drop zone, although they will be buoyed by their last result - a 2-2 draw at Liverpool. The Clarets, meanwhile, ended a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday to climb up to 13th place, five points above the bottom three, and have a little breathing space.

Without further ado, here are the team news...

WEST HAM STARTING XI: Randolph, Reid, Kouyate, Ogbonna, Antonio, Noble, Obiang, Cresswell, Payet, Lanzini, Carroll

BURNLEY STARTING XI: Heaton, Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward, Arfield, Marney, Hendrick, Boyd, Vokes, Gray

WEST HAM SUBS: Nordtveit, Adrian, Ayew, Fletcher, Fernandes, Quina, Browne

BURNLEY SUBS: Flanagan, Barnes, Kightly, Bamford, Defour, Robinson, Tarkowski

Slaven Bilic has made two changes to West Ham's starting XI from their impressive 2-2 draw at Anfield at the weekend, and it is good news for the Hammers faithful as Andy Carroll is drafted in to lead the line - the England striker has been used sparingly from the bench following his recovery from injury but is deemed fit enough to begin the game, and thus lines up in place of Andre Ayew, who drops to the bench.

The hosts' second change sees Cheikhou Kouyate return from a groin injury which ruled him out against the Merseysiders - his inclusion in the starting XI sees Havard Nordtveit named among the substitutes.

Sean Dyche, meanwhile, makes one change from the XI that began for Burnley in the 3-2 win over Bournemouth, as midfielder Steven Defour makes way for forward Andre Gray.

The Hammers start a potentially crucial run of fixtures tonight. Having played Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in succession, they now face four sides all around them towards the bottom of the Premier League table.

Tonight they host Burnley, before turning their attention to Hull City, Swansea City and Leicester City. All fixtures which Bilic would surely deem winnable and, following their away draw at Liverpool, there is no doubt that the East Londoners have more than enough to get a sizeable chunk of the available points and climb up the table.

Bilic has been very honest about his side's desperate need to get a win tonight, telling the press: "We need to beat Burnley and we need the points. It has been a difficult schedule and we have been waiting for these home games. And then it will change - not the season, but it can help us move up the table. It's going to be very hard and we will have to show our quality. It will be a difficult couple of games mentally but I'm sure we're going to be ready for Burnley."

That said, Burnley's next four games are also rather kind, save for perhaps one fixture - West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur away, followed by Middlesbrough and Sunderland at Turf Moor.

The Clarets will surely be eager to get the next two games out of the way, given how poor their away form has been. Although their season has been good so far overall, they have earned just one point from six matches on the road, only scoring a single goal in the process - the worst away record in the top flight.

Dyche has skilfully taken the statistic about his side's struggles on the road and turned it into mind games against the opposition. He told reporters: "We know we have to go down there and give an even better performance because we haven't got a win away from home yet. We know we've got to correct it. But the longer it goes the worse it is for the opposition we're playing. They'll be thinking 'the statistics suggest they're going to win one at some point'. It probably adds more spice to their thinking than ours because ours is clear-minded: we've just got to do better."

HEAD TO HEAD: West Ham and Burnley have met 82 times in competitive fixtures, with the first meeting coming on November 17, 1923 at Turf Moor. The Division One clash finished 5-1 to Burnley.

The Hammers recovered from their losing start to take the lead in the historical head-to-head - they currently boast 34 wins to Burnley's 31, while 17 games have been drawn.

West Ham have won three of their four previous Premier League contests against Burnley, including both games in the 2014-15 season, and the Hammers' only defeat to the Clarets in their last 11 home games in all competitions came in December 2011, losing 2-1 in the Championship.

Burnley have never won a Premier League match in London, drawing two and losing ten, while scoring just six goals overall in these matches.

Burnley's only win in a midweek Premier League fixture was in their first match in the division, beating Manchester United 1-0 in August 2009 - since then they have drawn four and lost four.

Since the start of last season, West Ham have won just two of their seven Premier League games against newly promoted teams, drawing three and losing two.

PREDICTION: Kickoff is just a few minutes away, so it's time for me to have a go at predicting tonight's result. With the Hammers buoyed from their draw at Liverpool, in addition to facing opposition that has struggled away from home this season, I reckon the hosts will get all three points, but only just - let's say 1-0 or 2-1.

The two teams have emerged from the tunnel - kickoff is imminent!

There will be a minute's applause for West Ham legend Peter Brabrook, who sadly passed away at the weekend aged 79.

KICKOFF! The hosts get the action underway!

West Ham start brightly as Antonio plays a cross into the box, but Carroll heads wide of Heaton's goal.

We have a stoppage in play as Reid and Vokes clash heads, with the Hammers defender needing a moment to compose himself, but he's fine to continue.

Payet drifts in from the left and does well to control a bouncing ball about 25 yards from goal, but his ensuing effort ends up being easily gathered by Heaton.

It's all West Ham in these early stages as Obiang is given space to try and line up a cross, which fails to beat the first man, and moments later Noble sets up Lanzini, whose resulting effort sails over the bar.

Reid and Vokes come together again and the former ends up on the ground. Second time the two clash tonight, and I bet it won't be the last before the final whistle.

The hosts have enjoyed the bulk of the possession so far, but have failed to trouble Burnley in what has been a relatively tame start to the match.

Vokes and Reid come together yet again - third time in the opening 15 minutes, which culminates in the Hammers defender giving the Clarets striker a shove. Watch this space...

CHANCE! The Hammers patiently play the ball around and get it forward, allowing Noble the space and time to whip a cross towards Antonio in the box, but it's too heavy for the forward, whose lunge for the ball fails to connect.

Lowton plays a long ball forward but Randolph claims easily and gets the ball upfield, allowing the Hammers to counter. Cresswell gets to the byline and curls a cross towards Lanzini, but his flick is blocked by Keane.

Payet's lofted pass into the Burnley box sees Carroll get the better of Mee and connect with the ball, but the Hammers striker blasts his effort well over the top.

West Ham win a free kick as Vokes is penalised for an arm in the face of Kouyate, but Carroll's touch to connect with the floated ball is too heavy and gifts possession back to the visitors.

PENALTY CALL! Antonio wins the first corner from the game, the ball is whipped into the Burnley box by Payet and, following Reid's flick-on, appears to strike Keane on the arm, prompting the home players and fans to call for a penalty, but the referee lets it go.

Another break in play as two West Ham players are seen to for minor knocks.

Burnley enjoy their first sustained attack of the game as Antonio charges down Hendrick's shot just outside the box.

PENALTY CALL! Burnley now appeal for a penalty as Gray takes a tumble in the Hammers area, but once again nothing is given.

CHANCE! The chances are starting to have more oomph behind them as Antonio drifts in from the right, runs onto a neat lay-off from Carroll and aims for the bottom corner, but Heaton gets down low and thwarts the effort.

OFF THE POST! Obiang takes Payet's square ball in his stride and, with nobody closing him down, decides to go for goal and strikes the outside of the post from range before the ball heads out!

Little of note happening in the last few minutes as the game appears to be petering out close to half time - Payet has a go from distance but fails to hit the target as the ball soars over.

Gray powers down the flank and forces a corner from Ogbonna, which is swung into the box but cleared by Cresswell.

Reid, Carroll and Kouyate have all gone to ground in this game and now Lowton and Marney hit the deck requiring treatment.

Another clash between Reid and Vokes - think it's the fourth so far - sees the Wales striker crumple on the floor clutching his head.

OFF THE POST! Noble is just inches away from giving his side the lead as he latches on to Payet's short corner and curls a shot beyond Heaton, only to see his strike ricochet back off the post!

PENALTY TO WEST HAM! In the second and final minute of first-half added time, Mee pulls back Reid in the box, and the ref awards a spot kick to the hosts! Noble to take...

Noble steps up to take the spot kick and Heaton saves low down to his left, but the midfielder is quick to pounce onto the rebound and rifle home!

Half time at the London Stadium and West Ham lead Burnley by a goal to nil, courtesy of Mark Noble's rebounded goal from his penalty two minutes into first-half added time.

It took a while for the game to really get into gear but the final few minutes were all-action as Noble fired against the bar and, not long after, Mee's foul on Reid was rightly penalised with a spot kick for the hosts.

Based on the balance of play, the half-time result is very much fair. The Hammers have had by far the most chances and a gargantuan 71 percent of possession, as well as completing 254 passes to Burnley's pitiful 68. In addition, the Clarets have not had a single shot on target.

As it stands, Burnley's dreadful away record in the Premier League this season is set to continue, while the Hammers are on course for a vital win which could very well kickstart their renaissance. But 45 minutes (plus added time) can be a very long time in football, and a lot can happen. Will it happen in this game? Stay with us as we bring you the second half shortly!

1 – Just one of Burnley's 17 league points this season have been won away from home (6% of their total). Woe.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 14 December 2016

KICKOFF: We are back underway at the London Stadium as Gray gets the action restarted. No changes for either side at half time.

Early days and West Ham seem content to sit back and absorb pressure as Burnley commit bodies forward, eager to carve out an opening to get them level.

Burnley attempt to build from the back but they get caught out and Heaton has to race from his line to make a timely clearance as Carroll presses.

CHANCE! Burnley win a free kick about 50 yards out which is lofted into the box and, after a scramble, Vokes connects with his back to goal and flicks the ball over his shoulder, but it ends well wide.

CHANCE! Another chance for Burnley and another sniff of goal for Vokes as Mee nods a ball back across goal from the far post but Cresswell manages to clear from under his own crossbar before the Wales striker can connect.

Ward lofts a cross towards goal and Randolph comes out to claim but falls awkwardly as he does so, forcing play to stop once again.

Carroll in the thick of it once again as he latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and, after brushing off his marker, sees his effort charged down and out for a corner.

CHANCE! Vokes will be kicking himself as he misses a glorious chance to level - Arfield marauds into the box and fires towards goal, Randolph parries the ball into the air, Vokes is well placed to head into the open goal but nods over!

Mee flies into Carroll and is booked for his challenge. Moments later, Lanzini decides to have a pop from 30 yards but it lacks venom and the ball is easily smothered by Heaton.

Carroll dishes it right back at Mee as he catches the Burnley man in the back with his knee, forcing yet another stoppage in play.

SUBSTITUTION: First change of the game and it's from West Ham as Manuel Lanzini is withdrawn for Andre Ayew.

Arfield tries to loft the ball over the Hammers defence and into the path of Gray, who peeled away from his marker, but it's overhit and Randolph is able to claim.

CHANCE! Burnley win a free kick 25 yards out, with Arfield and Boyd standing over it. The former takes and forces a strong save from Randolph, who palms the ball away with one hand.

BOOKING: West Ham attempt to break and Hendrick heartily clatters into Payet, which snuffs out the attack but earns the Burnley man a yellow card for his troubles.

SUBSTITUTION: First change of the night for Burnley, with George Boyd making way for Ashley Barnes.

Just under quarter of an hour to play and it's tense here at the London Stadium as West Ham hang on to their slender lead.

West Ham win a free kick, Payet lofts the ball down the middle and Carroll climbs highest, but his header fails to hit the target.

Complaints from Burnley as Carroll tugs down Marney when jostling for the ball in a good position, but the big man's strike flies wide.

SUBSTITUTION: Andy Carroll's shift is over as Ashley Fletcher comes on in his place for the last seven minutes plus stoppage time.

Panic in the stands of (the) London (Stadium) as Hendrick whips a cross towards Marney at the back post, who in turn knocks it down for Barnes in a dangerous position, but the offside flag puts an end to that.

SUBSTITUTION: West Ham captain Mark Noble heads off the pitch and to the dugout as Havard Nordveit enters the fray for the last few minutes.

Five minutes of added time at the London Stadium as Burnley continue to throw men forward in a bid to claim something from their trip to the capital...

CHANCE! Ayew very nearly seals the win for the hosts and it's close but no cigar as he weaves through the Burnley defence before firing just wide!

SUBSTITUTION: A very last throw of the dice for Dyche as Arfield makes way for Patrick Bamford.

So it ends at the London Stadium and West Ham have just given their survival hopes a huge boost by winning their their first league game in seven, while Burnley's woes on the road show no signs of abating.

The Hammers were completely dominant in the first half and took the lead when Mark Noble scored from his own penalty rebound, but they were made to sweat at the Clarets put in a much-improved performance after the restart.

That's all we have time for but don't go anywhere as Sports Mole is on hand to bring you all the match reports from a busy Wednesday night in the Premier League, as well as manager reactions and all the latest news! Thank you for following and, until next time, goodbye!