Dawson produces late Cup fireworks

Stockport 0 West Ham 1 (FA Cup)

It's another evening in front of BT Sport wondering if West Ham can do it on a rainy Monday night in Stockport. Matt takes to WhatsApp to announce that as Dowie has been dropped we might stand a chance. Though resting Bowen, Soucek and Cresswell is still a risk. 

It's all West Ham early on as Benrahma twists to curl a shot on to the outside of a post and Yarmolenko fires just wide. Then, bizarrely, the game is stopped by Mike Dean as cacophonous fireworks explode outside the ground. Well, my pal Fraser has been demanding more entertainment from Moyes.

Once the game resumes West Ham are restricted to long-range efforts from Lanzini and Rice as the rain cascades down and creative outlets Benrahma and Lanzini struggle to break down the defence in the mud. While it's really not Yarmolenko's type of game and Antonio is off the pace too, not looking match fit against a pair of giant defenders. We also miss Cressy's delivery.

MONDAY MUDDY MONDAY

In the second half the game becomes a muddy stalemate as fifth division Stockport even force a few corners. On one side of the pitch the ball hardly moves so deep are the puddles. Statto Matt helpfully points out that we've played six games against non-league teams since WW2 and scored just eight goals, so this is nothing new.

Moyes has to act and brings on Bowen, Soucek and Cresswell. Finally the Hammers threaten to get a few more crosses in rather than go through the middle of a packed defence. 

The breakthrough comes in the 83rd minute with a short corner — possibly the only successful short corner West Ham have taken in their history says Fraser. Bowen and Rice exchange passes and the former crosses for Craig Dawson, arriving late, to send a powerful downward header past Hinchcliffe. 

There's time for a late three-minute cameo from 18-year-old striker Odubeko as the Hammers see the game out. The side hasn't played well, but the attitude to fight has been good from Rice and co. This is exactly the sort of cup-tie the old West Ham might have lost.

A nice touch at the end is the West Ham squad standing in the rain as Moyes tells them they have to traipse back across the mudpatch to get a shower.

So it's on to face Doncaster in the 4th round. But the magic of the FA Cup is surely being further destroyed by making the fifth round draw at the same time as the fourth round. We now know that if we beat Doncaster WHU have to go to Anfield or Old Trafford.

But still, for the time being the dream of a Cup Final breakfast at Nigel's house in Kew remains on.