Irons Edge Into Fifth-Round

West Ham United are through to the fifth-round of the Emirates FA Cup after it again took extra-time for them to get past Sky Bet League One outfit Burton Albion in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Konstantinos Mavropanos was the only player to retain his place from Tuesday night’s home draw against Manchester United, with the Greek defender captaining a side that showed a mix of youth and experience.

Nuno Espírito Santo said in Thursday’s pre-match news conference that Alphonse Areola would replace Mads Hermansen in goal, while Kyle Walker-Peters, Ezra Mayers, Oliver Scarles, Keiber Lamadrid, Soungoutou Magassa, Adama Traoré, Callum Wilson and Mohamadou Kanté were all given a chance by the Portuguese, while Max Kilman also started.

Youngsters Finlay Herrick, Joshua Ajala and Lewis Orford were amongst the substitutes, along with Axel Disasi, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Valentín Castellanos.

The majority of the first-half was spent with Burton sizing up their opponents, while the Hammers were just trying to get used to the tricky playing surface. This was perhaps the reason why the home side were having the best of the play without really testing Areola. Both Tyrese Shade and Sebastien Revan tried their luck but fortunately for those who had travelled up from East London, they missed the target.

The home fans were given even more to shout about when they thought they should have been awarded a penalty after Jake Beesley went down under a challenge from the stand-in skipper but thankfully, Smith gave nothing.

The Premier League side were obviously installed as favourites to progress but to be fair to the home side, they were still applying pressure, as a long throw came into the box and George Evans headed it on but once again, it was no trouble for Areola, as the effort went narrowly wide.

The Irons fashioned their first real opportunity after they were awarded a corner on twenty one minutes. Scarles took responsibility for the set-piece and delivered it into the box but unfortunately nobody was able to get a firm boot to it before Beesley eventually cleared the danger.

Gary Bowyer’s men were still going in search of the opening goal. Evans had a free-kick blocked they were awarded another just minutes later. Shade’s effort was better, but it still didn’t worry Areola.

The Irons registered their first effort on target just four minutes later. Once Lamadrid had released the ball from his feet, he played in Wilson, but unfortunately, home goalkeeper Bradley Collins made the save.

Traoré then set up Kanté as the visitors finished the half strongly but unfortunately the youngster got his attempt all wrong and shot well wide of the target.

The half ended with the Brewers wanting another penalty after the ball struck Kilman but again, Smith was unmoved.

A difficult first-half ended for the Irons and they were hoping that their superiority would eventually shine through after the break.

Supporters are unaware of what happens in the dressing rooms but whatever Espírito Santo said or did to his team seemed to have worked as they looked a totally different proposition when the action recommenced but unfortunately, every West Ham attempt that came the way of Brewers was kept out by their resilient defence.

The away side then had their clearest chance of the game when a corner from Scarles was met by the head of Mavropanos but unfortunately, he wasn’t able to beat Collins.

The visiting defence held their shape and continued to block everything that came in their direction, before Mavropanos tried his luck once more when he turned and shot but again didn’t find the intended target.

West Ham were trying everything they could to find the breakthrough but the hosts were determined to keep their opponents out

The game continued to flow in the same vein but there was still no change in ‘the scoreline. In fact the best effort from the latest passage of play occurred when Wilson sent an effort goalwards which Collins matched with a superb save.

West Ham made a change on seventy one minutes with Freddie Potts taking the place of Lamadrid. However, it was much later on when both bosses made substitutions that their class showed. Both managers made double changes, as Crysencio Summerville entered the fray for the visitors, along with Valentín Castellanos, as Scarles and Traoré, made way while Bowyer threw on Kain Adom and Julian Larsson in place of Shade and Sulyman Krubally.

Had he been involved from the start, Castellanos would have made a huge difference as he was straight into thick of the action, playing the ball to Magassa who sent a powerful shot towards goal but unfortunately, Collins dealt with it.

With the tie still deadlocked after the ninety minutes, West Ham had to go into extra-time, just as they did in round three.

The travelling support didn’t have to wait too much longer for a goal, as it arrived just five minutes into the extra period and it was the man who got his current scoring streak up and running in round three who did the damage again, as Summerville sent a shot arrowing past Collins.

After the elation of finally going ahead, West Ham were then dealt a major blow, as Potts, who had only been on the pitch for a short time was penalised for a challenge on Larsson. Referee Smith initially took a yellow card out of his pocket but, after protests from a number the home side’s players, it was harshly upgraded to a red, meaning he will miss the next three games.

Burton sensed their chance of an equaliser and almost instantly found it. Fortunately though, Jack Armer’s venomous effort went narrowly wide of the post.

Beesley and Adom were next to try their luck but in all honesty, neither of the efforts troubled Areola.

Summerville somehow wasted the chance to make the tie secure for West Ham having had a clear sight of goal, but he only found the side netting.

Burton were sending more chances in Areola’s direction, as Kyran Lofthouse, Adom and Kegs Chauke all went close but nothing was happening for them.

Three changes were made by Bowyer and Espírito Santo at the halfway point of the extra thirty minutes, as Kanté and Wilson were withdrawn in favour of Axel Disasi and Orford, while Jasper Moon came on in place of Armer for the hosts.

West Ham successfully managed the rest of the game until it’s conclusion, meaning they can now focus on their crucial top-flight encounter with the Cherries in East London on Saturday.