West Ham United's Flynn Downes has admitted the club have practised penalties ahead of the second-leg tie vs Gent.
The Hammers head into UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final tie on the back of a 1-1 draw in Belgium last week, Thursday night's fixture being played at the London Stadium.
Should the game remain level after 90 minutes and extra-time, a place in the semi-finals would be decided by penalties.
READ MORE: Full West Ham squad available for Europa Conference League clash against Gent with two absentees
In a season in which West Ham have had five different penalty takers and have already lost a shootout to Championship opposition in Blackburn Rovers, another game decided from 12-yards out may lead to more training sessions practicing spot-kicks.
But Downes has admitted that the focus has been elsewhere with the team hoping to put the game to bed in 90 minutes and not have it settled in such dramatic fashion.
"We had a little practice but we are hoping it doesn’t come to that," said Downes in the pre-match press conference.
When asked if the team are thinking about the prospect of penalties, he added: "It is. You have to expect the unexpected, these things happen like we saw against Blackburn. Went to pens and lost that time but hoping to put that right."
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