Greek Bloke blasts West Ham into quarter-finals

West Ham 2 Brentford 2 (FA Cup, aet, West Ham win 5-3 on pens)

It's down to the diehards for this cup tie. With Matt and Lisa in Amsterdam wondering if this could be anywhere, Liverpool or Rome and Michael also AWOL, it's just Nigel and myself, plus Big Sam, who has travelled up by coach from Cardiff and his mate Jake the vlogger.

Both teams play strong sides, though for WHU Hermansen, Todibo and Diouf are out of the squad, while Summerville and AWB start on the bench. Pablo returns and does a decent job linking up play although he's not a natural goalscorer.

Early on Brentford's Henderson fires a good chance over and then Areola has to make a fine save to deny Kayode. But it's the Irons who take the lead after 19 minutes. Fernandes whips in a cross after a corner is cleared. Soucek does really well to get between two defenders and head a fridge, leaving Bowen to fire home from close range.

Things are a little worrying at the back though as Scarles can't contain the impressive Ouattara. It's from Ouattara's cross that Collins heads towards goal and the ball nicks off Thiago to beat Areola, who should have done better. A VAR appeal for handball is cleared.

It's an entertaining game between similar sides and without the tension of league points at stake. The crowd of 48,000 fans is again noisy as we get behind the side, unlike the fans of certain north London neighbours. 

Kante is having an energetic game in midfield. Traore has already had one good run before shooting wide. The muscular winger is then brought down in the box by Kayode. After a long wait for Godot the VAR sign eventually goes up and after review the ref suggests Jarrod Bowen strokes home a penalty. 

West Ham survive a VAR check on Scarles' challenge in the box and Ollie also heads off the line. At the other end Soucek again heads a fridge and Kelleher does really well to save from the diving Czech.

So it's 2-1 at the break. Scarles is replaced by the more tenacious Ezra Mayers and Adama Traore leaves to man the doors at a West End nightclub, being replaced by Jimmy Summerville. West Ham have chances. Summerville has a shot deflected over after a mazy dribble and Bowen shoots into Kelleher from out wide. Magassa replaces Kante but has a bit of a 'mare, prompting Matt in Amsterdam to turn the air claret and blue. Brentford bring on 1960s folk singer Donovan and hurl endless long throws into the box.

The equaliser comes when Ouattara gets in a cross and Summerville nudges Kayode in the back. Thiago duly scores the penalty. "Just when I was starting to think of the next round," muses Nigel. Lewis-Potter's cross whizzes across the box late on as it ends 2-2 and we need to regroup. 

Big Sam watches the latter proceedings in just his Prague WHU shirt, prompting thoughts he might have Geordie blood, while Nigel makes a bold decision in extra-time, eating his lucky banana. Strangely Jake's vlog misses this crucial intervention. 

Extra time goes very quickly. Callum Wilson forces a great save with his first touch. Donovan fires over for the Bus Stop From Hounslow and Taty has an effort deflected over. Summerville is limping after a heavy clash which is worrying.

WE'VE GOT DINOS MAVROPANOS!

At the very end Disasi thunders a shot just over. He seems to be enjoying playing for the Irons and has transformed our season. It's also good to see him celebrate a tackle that prevents a late Bees goal.

So it's penalties. Bowen and Taty score with ease, while Brentford's Ouattara takes just about the worst Panenka ever, chipping the ball into Areola's hands alike a dad playing with his toddler in the park. Wilson and Soucek also score with high and powerful pens as it's 4-3. So who will take the final penalty to win it?

"It's the Greek Bloke!" hollers Big Sam. We know that Dinos will never let us down. The Greek Bloke shows character to take the responsibility and blasts the ball into the top-right hand corner to spark a team mobbing and Bubbles on the tannoy. So it's Leeds in the next round and we're one game from a Wembley semi-final. 

Sam leaves to catch the 11.30pm coach back to Cardiff, arriving home 24 hours after leaving before starting work four hours later. Luxury. There's dancing in the streets of Amsterdam. Nigel and myself have a swift pint at Fabwick in Hackney Wick, which is furnished like a bohemian front room, reflecting that although we don't really need a cup run while fighting for survival winning has to be good for morale. We're two games from the final and this team is starting to show real spirit. Irons!

PLAYER RATINGS: Areola 6; Walker-Peters 6 (Wan-Bissaka 6); Disasi 7, Mavropanos 8, Scarles 5 (Mayers 6); Soucek 8, Fernandes 7 (Wilson 6), Kante 7 (Magassa 4); Bowen 8, Pablo 6 (Castellanos 6), Traore 7 (Summerville 7).