Derby County v West Ham United – Emirates FA Cup fourth round – Pride Park – Report
Derby County 0-2 West Ham United
Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mikhail Antonio eased West Ham United past plucky Sky Bet League One outfit, Derby County and booked an Emirates FA Cup fifth-round tie with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
What with recent cup calamities at Wigan, Wimbledon and Oxford United reasonably fresh in their minds as well as a close shave at non-league Kidderminster twelve months previous, Hammers boss, David Moyes was well-rehearsed in the unpredictability of knockout football: “Last year we were given an unbelievable game at Kidderminster, where we came minutes from being knocked out, so anything can happen in this competition and we’ve seen that over the years,” the Scotsman explained.
“We need to be our mettle, we need to play well. Derby are on a good run at the moment, they are a football club that is Premier League in stature and size, so we go there and will give them all the respect we can and hopefully go through to the next round. But they’ll be thinking the same.”
Moyes made six changes to the side that started West Ham’s 2-0 Premier League win over Everton nine days previous. Alphonse Areola, Ben Johnson, Thilo Kehrer, Tomáš Souček, Flynn Downes and Pablo Fornals were handed starts, while Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal, Kurt Zouma, Declan Rice, Lucas Paqueta and Said Benrahma slipped to the bench.
Pride Park provided a raucous cup-tie atmosphere, boosted by more than 5,000 traveling Hammers fans. Tom Barkhuizen offered an early threat for the hosts, while Antonio ran out of road whilst trying to find an opening for the East Londoners.
Bowen had netted twice during the win over Everton. His first attempt of the evening was comfortably fielded by Rams stopper, Joe Wildsmith. But when provided with a close-range opportunity soon after, the former Hull City man guided past Smith to hand his side an early advantage. Tomas Soucek, Pablo Fornals, Emerson and Antonio were involved, sending the Hammers contingent into raptures in the process.
To their credit, Derby stuck to their principles. James Collins volleyed wide following a crisp passing movement. Meanwhile, the lively Barkhuizen was too high after cutting in from the left.
Former Nottingham Forest man, Antonio had been roundly booed by the home crowd, but he silenced them five minutes after the restart, arriving to nod Bowen’s deflected cross into an empty net to double West Ham’s advantage.
Michail Antonio heads West Ham United’s second goal against Derby County at Pride Park (Rob Newell CameraSport)
Wildsmith denied Bowen after substitute, Said Benrahma had fashioned an opening, while Eiran Cashin’s timely interception thwarted the same man as West Ham, now playing with a little more freedom, looked to kill the contest.
Wildsmith was again called into action, this time blocking Ben Johnson’s fierce strike. But Moyes’s men had done more than enough to ensure their progress from a potentially tricky cup tie.
West Ham United return to Premier League action on Saturday, February 4 when they take on Newcastle United at St James Park (5:30pm).
Derby County: Widsmith, Smith, Davies (Capt) (Dobbin 61′), Forsyth, Roberts, Hourihane (Rooney 72′), Bird (Thompson 62′), Mendez-Laing (Springett 61′), Knight, Barkhuizen (Cashin 61′), Collins Subs not used: Loach (GK), Stearman, Robinson, Brown
Booked: Smith (foul)
goals: None
West Ham United: Areola, Johnson, Kehrer, Ogbonna (Capt), Aguerd, Emerson (Cresswell 78′), Souček, Downes, Fornals (Lanzini 89′), Antonio (Benrahma 64′), Bowen (Mubama 78′) Subs not used: Fabianski (GK), Coufal, Laing, Rice, Paquetá
Booked: Soucek (foul)
goals: Bowen 10′, Antonio 50′
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Assistant Referees: Derek Eaton and Steven Meredith
Fourth Official: Andrew Madley
Attendance: 25.308
