Bowen Helps Extend Cup Run

West Ham United have booked a home quarter-final with another fellow Premier League side in the shape of Leeds United on the opening weekend of April after it took both extra-time and penalties for them to knock Brentford out of the competition on Monday night.

As this was a tie against a club in the same division, Head-Coach Nuno Espírito Santo named a largely experienced side, but he still made seven changes from the team that beat Fulham at Craven Cottage five days earlier. Chelsea loanee Axel Disasi, Mateus Fernandes, Tomáš Souček and captain Jarrod Bowen retained their places with Alphonse Areola starting in goal, while Kyle Walker-Peters, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Oliver Scarles, Mohamadou Kanté and Adama Traoré all came in the starting line-up, while Pablo Felipe was finally able to make his return from a long-term calf injury.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Soungoutou Magassa, Crysencio Summerville, Callum Wilson and Valentín Castellanos dropped to the bench.

Freddie Potts made a return from suspension but only made the matchday squad, along with Max Kilman and youngsters Finlay Herrick and Ezra Mayers, who were also all involved, while Mads Hermansen, Jean-Clair Todibo and El Hadji Malick Diouf were all given the night off.

Brentford were the opponents in Espírito Santo’s first game in charge of the team here and his side were determined to banish the memories of that 2-0 defeat back on 20 October. However, it is fair to say that West Ham are a much- improved team now. Both teams had chances in the opening stages.

 After Kevin Schade missed the target up one end, Scarles contrived to do the same at the other, meaning there was no early breakthrough.

The Hammers then came under severe pressure from their opponents, as Brentford began to dominate proceedings but unfortunately for Keith Andrews’ side they went through that particular period without scoring. With Areola finally thwarting Michael Kayode, as he tried to beat him.

Kayode was on the receiving end of things minutes later though, when Traoré gave him the runaround before shooting narrowly wide.

Minutes later, Felipe also saw his effort deflect wide and go for a corner which resulted in Bowen beating Caoimhin Kelleher with only nineteen minutes gone. The set-piece was sent over and Fernandes evaded the attentions of Mikkel Damsgaard and crossed. Tomáš Souček met the delivery and he then headed the ball down to the skipper, leaving him with the simplest of finishes past the Irishman. Cue jubilation from the majority inside the stadium.

Within nine minutes, the scores were back level. Dango Ouattara crossed and it was helped goalwards by Nathan Collins. However, when the ball found his way past Areola, Igor Thiago got the final touch.

The Bees were on level terms for an even shorter period of time than when the home side were first ahead. Espírito Santo’s men edged in front again on thirty four minutes. The large home crowd appealed for a penalty, following a foul by Kayode on Traoré.

Referee Andrew Madley didn’t see the incident and originally gave nothing but after he was asked to review his decision by the VAR officials, the spot-kick was awarded. Bowen then stepped up and got the better of Kelleher once again.

A little more than five minutes later, the Bees thought they should have had a penalty of their own but again, Madley was unmoved and this time VAR backed him up.

The visitors may well have levelled matters, had it not been for a timely goal-line clearance from Scarles. Having said that though West Ham perhaps should have made the scoreline more comfortable but unfortunately, Disasi missed his kick from a matter of six yards out, while Souček tested Kelleher but unfortunately for the Irons, the former Liverpool goalkeeper was able to keep him out.

A lengthy amount of stoppage was added to the end of the half, but the hosts kept their shape and went down the tunnel for the break a goal in front.

Espírito Santo decided to make a double change during the break, as Scarles and Traoré made way for Mayers and Summerville.

The former Leeds United winger has been key to West Ham’s current upturn in form and no sooner had he entered the fray, he was into the action as he then shot goalwards and only intervention from Kayode prevented the ball from going past Kelleher.

The hosts made another substitution just before the hour mark, as Castellanos was introduced to take the place of Felipe.

The hosts probably would have made the tie safe with their next opportunity but unfortunately, Collins stopped them from doing so. Shortly after, Kayode almost equalised for Brentford but fortunately, Areola wasn’t really tested as the effort was straight at him.

In West Ham’s only Premier League win against the Bees back in February 2024, Bowen scored the only hat-trick of his career and having already claimed a brace in this match, he had the chance to get another here. He found space but couldn’t beat Kelleher.

With seventy six minutes gone, Espírito Santo shuffled his pack for a fourth time with Magassa entering the fray for Kanté.

With the home fans just eleven minutes away from victory, Madley made amends for not giving the visitors a penalty earlier in the contest by awarding them one after Summerville sent Kayode to the ground. Thiago stepped up and again levelled the scores, despite being roundly booed by the home faithful.

Although Andrews’ side are not in action until Monday night, both sides were desperate to try and win the tie within normal time. Keane Lewis-Potter had a go at goal, but his attempt went wide, while Summerville sent a dangerous cross into the area, but it was easily cleared by the visiting defence meaning Madley blew the final whistle and West Ham were again taken to extra-time.

The Hammers’ Head-Coach made his fifth change of the evening as Wan-Bissaka was called upon to replace Walker-Peters.

Minutes before the end of the half, Andrews sent on Romelle Donovan to replace Damsgaard and he had the chance to show the away fans want he could do before the first fifteen minutes were over. However, he didn’t make the most of the opportunity, as he fired over the bar.

FA Cup rules state that if a match goes into extra-time, then teams are permitted to have up to six substitutes on the pitch at any given time.

Both managers decided to exercise this privilege, meaning that Wilson was brought on and Fernandes withdrawn for the Irons, while Kaye Furo was the Bees’ latest alteration, as he took the place of Schade.

Wilson almost made the impact that his boss was looking for but unfortunately, Kelleher was equal to the striker’s effort as he made a superb one-handed save.

Two penalties had already been given in this match and West Ham felt they should have been awarded another one for Lewis-Potter’s handball but, Madley wasn’t interested.

With four minutes remaining before a penalty shoot-out would be played, an effort from Castellanos would have won the tie but a slight deflection meant that the Argentine was unable to hit the target.

West Ham’s last chance was fashioned when Disasi tried his luck with a 30-yard powerful shot but, it went narrowly wide and with that, Madley’s whistle meant penalties.

The two players that had earlier successfully scored from the spot went first, as Bowen got his side up and running, before took Thiago took Brentford’s first. They both converted again, meaning that there was still no daylight between the teams.

Castellanos also converted before Ouattara delighted the home fans when he made a hash of his attempt.

Thankfully, neither Wilson, Souček or Mavropanos made a mistake and it is the East Londoners who will now have another tie to look forward to next month.

Top-flight matters swing back into focus for them on Saturday though, as they are back under the lights in Stratford and looking to build on this momentum, as well as taking advantage of Manchester City’s current hectic schedule.