Hammers draw Sunderland

West Ham United have been drawn at away to Barclays Premier League rivals Sunderland in the Carling Cup third round.

The Hammers won through to this stage with Tuesday's 1-0 defeat of Oxford United at the Boleyn Ground. As well as Avram Grant's men, the seven English clubs involved in European competition enter at this stage along with the 25 second-round winners. Third-round ties will be contested in the week commencing Monday 20 September 2010.

West Ham and Sunderland have met twice before in the League Cup, coming through on both occasions. Alvin Martin and David Cross scored in a 2-1 fourth-round replay victory at the Boleyn Ground in November 1979 following a 1-1 draw at Roker Park. The two sides met in the second round in 1988/89, with the Hammers winning 5-1 on aggregate.

West Ham reached this stage of the competition last season before being knocked out by the same scoreline over 120 minutes away to Bolton Wanderers. The 2010/11 final will be held at Wembley Stadium on 27 February 2011.

The Hammers have reached the League Cup final twice in their history, losing out on both occasions. West Bromwich Albion ran out 5-3 aggregate winners in 1965/66, while Liverpool earned a 2-1 replay victory at Villa Park in 1980/81 after the initial game at finished 1-1 at Wembley.

Sunderland reached the League Cup final in 1984/85, losing 1-0 to Norwich City at Wembley.

Ticket information to come on whufc.com as soon as confirmed. Click here for all the latest ticket information.