Derby County 0 West Ham United 2 (FA Cup)
It's Monday night at home in front of ITV 4 for this cup-tie. Nice of them to ruin it for us by having the draw just before kick-off — and yet again West Ham are drawn away to Man United. That's three times we've drawn the Mancs away in the last two seasons and the fifth time we've drawn MUFC in seven seasons. Infamy, infamy...
Derby are now a League One club with a fine stadium but not much brass, but at least they are still in existence which was in doubt last year. The Irons start well, with Downes making a fine tackle to release Bowen, who fires at the keeper. After ten minutes comes a welcome opener to deflate the crowd. Antonio's shot is blocked, but Downes plays a short ball to Soucek who plays a one-two with Antonio. Soucek unselfishly heads Antonio's return across the goal for Bowen to fire home.
Derby rarely threaten and we get plenty of time to admire Aguerd's control and left foot passes. Antonio and Bowen are lively up front and Fornals dithers when he should have shot. "How shit must you be we're winning away?" chant the West Ham fans, followed by "My name is Ludek Miklosko..."
The second half sees the game put to bed as Fornals pounces on some lax midfield play to put in a through ball that is deflected to Bowen. Jarrod's cross nicks a defender and sits up nicely for Antonio to head home.
Sub Dobbin has a few decent runs for Derby, but the rest of the game is spent enjoying the chants of, "Ten men men went to carry, went to carry Lampard." Bowen should make it three after sub Benrahma plays him through and young Mubama comes on and does a few bits of good hold-up play.
So a fairly easy win without Rice and Paqueta, and now a massive task at Old Trafford. Still, we won there in the Carabao Cup next season and we have to beat the top sides to progress. Though I do fear our cup final breakfast in Kew might just be postponed for another season.
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