Accrington Stanley left the capital with their heads held high after West Ham United needed a stoppage time winner to knock the League Two side out of the EFL Cup third round.

The Reds matched the Premier League giants blow for blow throughout the contest, but Dimitri Payet scored with a free-kick in the dying seconds of the game to win the game for the Hammers, in front of nearly 40,000 at the London Stadium.

Stanley were lively in the opening stages and had the first chance of the game when Seamus Conneely forced a save out of Darren Randolph.

Sofiane Feghouli was West Ham’s biggest threat as the half progressed, and he tried his luck from distance after 18 minutes, but Elliot Parish was equal to it.

Accrington were giving as good as they got, with Sean McConville shooting agonisingly wide after getting on the end of a cross from John O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan then had a chance of his own when he was set up by Billy Kee, but his curling attempt was off target.

West Ham had a number of their summer signings in the starting 11, including Simone Zaza, who fired over the crossbar from 25 yards out.

The hosts had the better chances as the half came to a close, with Jonathan Calleri and Zaza both causing problems.

Stanley were giving as good as they got though, with McConville threatening with a free kick at the other end just before the interval.

With the score goalless at the break, West Ham turned to some of their big guns on the substitute’s bench, with Payet and Manuel Lanzini both coming on.

It was a slow start to the second half, with neither side managing to create any serious opportunities.

Parish made a comfortable save to deny Zaza on 53 minutes, while Randoph was needed to keep out McConville at the other end.

Reds boss John Coleman soon made changes of his own, and it was substitute Chris Eagles who nearly made the breakthrough when his half-volley went inches wide.

West Ham were desperate for a goal inside the 90 minutes, bringing on Michail Antonio, who was lively as soon as he entered the fray.

Stanley were forced into a chance on 84 minutes when Conneely was injured, with Rommy Boco coming on in his place.

After using all three of their substitutes, West Ham had to play the remainder of the match with 10 men when Arthur Masuaku went off injured.

It didn’t matter in the end, as Payet struck with a superb free kick in the sixth minute of stoppage time to break Stanley hearts after they had performed so well throughout the game.

Accrington: Parish, Vyner, Pearson, Beckles, Donacien, Brown (Hughes 77’), Coneely (Boco 84’), O’Sullivan (Eagles 66’), Clark, McConville, Kee. Subs not used: Chapman, Gornell, Jones, Lacey