Bristol City 1 West Ham 0 (FA Cup)
It's a night in front of the BBC coverage for this one. With Paqueta, Bowen, Kudus and Aguerd all out this was always going to be difficult, while Alvarez and Fornals are also absent, plus long-term casualty Antonio.
It's the worst possible start after three minutes when after the City keeper clears from Cornet's pass to Ings, Mavropanos plays a no-look backpass and Conway nips in to round Fabianski and score. That's the second goal Dinos has given away from a poor back pass and for all his promise he needs to work on his concentration.
West Ham come back into it and force a few corners, even though the front three of Cornet, Ings and Benrahma haven't scored a goal between them all season. Cornet under pressure sends a volley past the post. Ings has a decent turn and snapshot just wide, but then fluffs another chance when he tries to square it rather than shoot. That's the sign of a striker completely lacking in confidence.
The game is effectively over just after the break when Benrahma is sent off for kicking out after being fouled. It was a bad challenge by Williams but a stupid piece of indiscipline from Beni, and sums up the way his season has gone. Though City are also lucky to still have 11 men after a raised arm from Gardner-Hickman on Cresswell goes unpunished.
Emerson moves into midfield and tries his best to get some progressive play going, but Bristol are really fired up and want it more on a cold Tuesday night in the west country. West Ham's best chance comes when Cornet gets in a good cross from the left and Soucek's effort is brilliantly tipped over by O'Leary.
Mubama comes on late and it's pleasing to see young Callum Marshall get ten minutes, but that's about the only positive. Wells goes close with a couple of late efforts and the outcome is never really in doubt. So the Cup Final breakfast at Nigel's gaff in Kew Gardens is off once more, as we concentrate in on the Premier and Europa Leagues and getting some bodies back in action.
2 comments:
Hopefully people might give Ings a break and actually support the players wearing the shirt-a bit of confidence could do him good..and Moyes for that matter
Yes it only takes one bad result and the moaning starts. We're sixth!
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