Derby 0-2 West Ham: Visitors book fifth-round trip to Man United
Derby County 0-2 West Ham: Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio on target to book FA Cup fifth-round tie at Old Trafford for Hammers and ease pressure on David Moyes
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West Ham will attempt to summon the spirit of Paolo Di Canio when they meet Manchester United in the FA Cup after this routine victory set up an enticing fifth-round tie at Old Trafford.
Since Di Canio’s strike in January 2001 gave West Ham a memorable victory at the Theatre of Dreams, they have failed to beat United in four attempts in the competition.
Goals in either half from Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio booked West Ham’s spot in the last 16 and though they will travel to United as underdogs, the fixture list for Erik ten Hag’s men will give them hope.
West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen opened the scoring from close range in the 10th minute
Derby (4-2-3-1): Wildsmith 6.5; Smith 6, Davies 6 (Dobbin 63, 6), Forsyth 5, Roberts 6; Bird 6.5 (Thompson 62, 6), Hourihane 5.5 (Rooney 71, 6); Mendez-Laing 5.5 (Springett 62, 6), Knight 6.5, Barkhuizen 6 (Cashin 62, 6); Collins 6. Subs not used: Loach, Stearman, Robinson, Brown
Booked: Smith
Manager: Paul Warne 6.5
West Ham (3-4-2-1): Areola 6; Kehrer 6, Ogbonna 6, Aguerd 7; Johnson 6.5, Soucek 7, Downes 6.5, Emerson 6 (Cresswell 78); *Bowen 7.5* (Mubama 78), Fornals 6 (Lanzini 87); Antonio 6.5 (Benrahma 64, 6.5). Subs not used: Fabianski, Coufal, Paqueta, Rice, Laing.
Scorers: Bowen 10, Antonio 50
Booked: Soucek
Manager: David Moyes 6.5
Referee: Thomas Bramall 6
Attendance: 25,308
Around the time of this tie, United take on Barcelona in the Europa League and Liverpool in the league, and are likely to be in the Carabao Cup Final as well. They hold a 3-0 lead over Nottingham Forest in the semi-final, with the second leg at home on Wednesday night.
Even though they remain in trouble in the league, David Moyes’ side have now won three of their last four in all competitions, to ease some of the pressure on their manager. Though there is plenty of work to do to secure their top-flight status, at least Moyes’ star man from last season is rediscovering his touch.
Moyes admitted Bowen had been desperate to force his way into England’s World Cup squad, which had affected his form. Yet he now has three goals in his last two matches following a double in the win over Everton and with captain Declan Rice named only among the substitutes, Bowen seized the chance to take a senior role here. And though Antonio has suggested he could leave the club this month, he also made a telling contribution.
Bowen stabbed in the Hammers’ opener from Tomas Soucek’s header at Pride Park
Despite leading his team to two wins in their last three matches, Moyes remains under pressure with West Ham fighting for survival having won only five times in the league this season.
That is nothing, however, compared to what the Rams were facing last season, most of which they spent in administration. A year ago to the day, fans marched through the city before a 2-2 draw with Birmingham when Derby’s future was clouded in uncertainty.
Mercifully, things have been much brighter since local property developer David Clowes took control of the club last summer. Derby’s only defeat in their previous 19 matches was on penalties at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup and they are firmly in the hunt for promotion from League One. Much as West Ham fans would not like to hear it, this could be a Championship fixture next season.
West Ham forward Michail Antonio headed home the second goal in the 50th minute
For large parts of the game, it resembled one, with neither side able to find rhythm in their attacking play. Moyes had made six changes to the team who began the 2-0 win over Everton that eased some of the pressure on the manager, while the home side kept faith with 10 of the 11 who won at Port Vale last week retained. Given that consistency in selection, it was no surprise Derby made the brighter start.
Tom Barkhuizen escaped into the space behind Thilo Kehrer inside the opening minute and pulled the ball into the danger zone, where Tomas Soucek produced an important block to get his team out of trouble. And in the 10th minute, Soucek was heavily involved in the move that led to West Ham’s opener.
After Michail Antonio’s first shot rebounded off Craig Forsyth, the ball was worked back to the Hammers forward, who hooked it into the path of Soucek. Timing his late run into the box perfectly, Soucek headed across to Bowen, who volleyed in from close range.
Antonio was left unmarked to score with a header from Bowen’s deflected cross
Antonio had irked Moyes by hinting he could leave the club before today’s/Tuesday’s transfer deadline, and there seems little chance of that with both Danny Ings and Gianluca Scamacca injured.
Derby tried to respond but too often their moves were let down by a poor decision at the crucial moment. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing burst into the area in the closing minutes of the half only to turn down a blind alley with team-mates well placed.
Trailing by only one, Derby were still in the game, but their chances of a comeback suffered a huge blow just four minutes after the restart. Curtis Davies found himself in a horrible tangle trying to cut out Pablo Fornals’ pass, and the ball fell perfectly for Bowen in the area.
Forsyth tried to intercept the cross but succeeded only in diverting it on to the head of Antonio, who directed it beyond Joe Wildsmith from inside the six-yard box.
Bowen then came close to a second when he fired against Wildsmith from eight yards, and moments later he was inches away from sliding home a cross from Ben Johnson after good approach work from substitute Said Benrahma.
West Ham defender Thilo Kehrer, left, is challenged by Derby’s Tony Springett
Derby forward James Collins attempts an acrobatic effort on goal against West Ham
West Ham’s third win in last four games eased the pressure on West Ham boss David Moyes
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