Concentrating on the League

Man United 1 West Ham 0 (FA Cup, after extra time)

At least this was on BBC1 so no logging on to Sky or BT, though a tedious match probably had millions switching over to ITV. It was a great defensive performance from the Hammers marred by any lack of penetration going forward. Selecting Mark Noble, who did ok, seemed massively over-cautious when Benrahma was on the bench and without Antonio few fans held out much hope.

Ogbonna was crocked making a goal-saving tackle on Martial, so Diop came on who was then felled after a clash of heads with Martial. Issa then had to go off at half-time to be replaced by the first concussion substitute. The only big chance of the first half came when Fabianski made a great save to turn away Lindelof's deflected header. 

With Ben Johnson and Fredericks on as subs the Irons at least improved a bit and got in a few crosses. But the second half was nearly all United pressure even if they looked out-of-sorts. Fabianski made one good block from Rashford. Yarmolenko, who had little change from Maguire, ended up getting injured and being replaced by Odubeko. It was a big ask for the youngster to take on Lindelof and Maguire and he made little impact.

The efficient West Ham defence held on for 0-0 at full-time and in the absence of Ogbonna and Diop, Craig Dawson had a magnificent game at centre back and almost connected with a late corner. Sign him up quick. But we were always likely to lose it in extra-time and so it proved. Rice mis-controlled on the edge of United's area and the Reds broke. After a goalmouth melee Rashford touched the ball back to sub McTominay who drove home first-time.

The game ended with sub Odubeko subbed by Lanzini and Benrahma at least having a header saved by De Gea, though he was probably offside. And so the Cup Final breakfast at Nigel's gaff in Kew Gardens has to wait — again. We'll all be as old as Captain Tom by the time it happens. 

It's still mystifying why Moyes didn't bring in a loan striker in the window. It's right he doesn't want to waste millions on a keep-the-fans-happy stopgap, but a loan signing would have been no risk. That decision effectively sabotaged the FA Cup run and he now has to buy the right long-term striker in the summer. 

Perhaps Lingard returning will make a difference and Antonio is just 'fatigued' and will survive the rest of the season. West Ham can certainly defend these days but the end of the season is very much depending on one man's hamstrings.

Official: Tomas Soucek is Innocent OK?

Sense has prevailed and Tomas Soucek's red card has been rescinded and Mike Dean been put on the naughty step. As Soucek says, he's played 200 games and never had a red card before. It didn't help the way Mitrovic went down holding his face either. And we'll never know if Soucek had been on the pitch whether he might have got his head on that last minute free kick. Still, potato salad all round, at least justice has been swiftly dispensed.

Disappointing draw and a ridiculous red

"The Force is not strong in Michail's hamstrings"

Fulham 0 West Ham 0

This match was played in atrocious conditions and appeared to be a game too far for West Ham's players. So bright against Villa, this was a tired performance. Lingard and Antonio looked jaded from the start, though the Hammers did have a couple of decent first half chances as Bowen just missed an inviting cross and Soucek headed over when well-placed.

Fulham competed fiercely, as you'd expect from a team fighting to survive. The Irons almost broke the deadlock in the second half as Coufal headed Rice's cross on to the top of the bar. Fresh legs were needed though it's debatable whether Noble and Yarmolenko were the right subs and with Lingard not being fully match fit it was strange to keep him on all game. Antonio's hamstrings needed a rest but having no specialist striker to replace him bar Yarmolenko emphasised the fact that we're unlikely to make the top four.

Fulham had chances to win it with Mitrovic and Loftus-Cheek both hitting efforts wide. To be positive the Hammers' defence did stand up well again and in other seasons we might have lost this.

Just when it's seeming that Mike Dean is having a quiet game VAR intervenes. In the 97th minute Mitrovic has gone down in the box after an elbow from Soucek, though the replays show that it is clearly accidental with Tomas trying to move his arm out of the way. Soucek seems just about the nicest man in football. He wouldn't retaliate even if you stole his potato salad. But Mike Dean watches the replay a million times and then opts for a red, which Ian Wright on Match of the Day later brands, "the worst decision I've ever seen". Surely WHU will win any appeal.

At least Moyes livens up the rainy post-match press conference by appearing in a black hood, channelling the Emperor from Star Wars, a bit of Obi-Wan Kenobe and perhaps The Master from the Doctor Who story The Deadly Assassin. The Force was not strong in West Ham here, let's hope we get it back before The Empire Strikes Back and crocks Antonio. 

Haller is forgotten man of Ajax

The Guardian reports that Ajax have forgotten to register new striker Sebastien Haller for their Europa League games. The Dutch giants blame this on an "administrative error" and a glitch on their computer system. Or as we call it, a cock-up reminiscent of West Ham's Manny Omoyinmi saga. Ajax are appealing to Uefa but this is all likely to leave Seb scowling as if he's just scored a goal for West Ham. I thought it was only West Ham that did this sort of thing. It's also proof that David Moyes's policy is right — if you have too many strikers you might forget to register them...

Perfect start for Lingard as Hammers smash Villa

Aston Villa 1 West Ham 3

Another night on BT Sport. From the kick off it's apparent that the lively Lingard is looking really pleased to be playing football again and already seems to have a good understanding with Benrahma and Antonio — even if it is tough on Fornals to be dropped.  

The Hammers have the better of the first half, creating a few chances with Antonio scuffing a volley and Lingard testing Martinez from distance. Watkins does hit the outside of the post with a curling shot after a mistake by Dawson, but Soucek also goes close before the interval.

Moyes has got it right tactically, unlike against Liverpool. Playing Fredericks as a wingback helps nullify the threat of Grealish and Coufal relishes winding up the Villa talisman with some crunching tackles.

Antonio shoots wide after a quickfire break early in the second half. But the Hammers take the lead as Antonio holds up the ball for Benrahma, whose great first time pass releases Soucek to rifle it into the far corner.

The Hammers are two up after another swift counterattack. Watkins is dispossessed by Rice, Benrahma breaks at speed to find Antonio, whose pass is chested down by Lingard. He shoots past Martinez and is mobbed his teammates round the corner flag. 

It's almost three when a fine dribble and cross from Fredericks sees Antonio's shot deflected over. Then a great Cresswell pass releases Antonio only for his lob to be cleared off the line by Mings.

It gets a little worrying with eight minutes left as Grealish finds Watkins to score as he gets between Ogbonna and Dawson. A couple of minutes later Dawson has to make a fine block to deny Watkins again.

The game is finally put to bed when Soucek wins a tackle to release Antonio who finds Lingard in space on the right. Lingard's shot goes straight through the hapless Martinez and Jesse even gets to do his silly dance in celebration. For a bloke who's not played since September it's been a fantastic performance.

It's a shame Benrahma can't round off a great Hammers move in added time, but this has been another impressive away win at a good side. Coufal, Fredericks, Soucek, Benrahma, Lingard and Antonio, who helped create three goals, have all been standout performers. This is WHU's best points total since the Boys of '86. Where is it going to take us? COYI!

Still striker light

So West Ham have ended the transfer window without a second striker. It's odd we didn't go for Josh King who has gone on loan to Everton. With 17 games left that's a big burden on Michail Antonio's dodgy hamstrings. The alternatives appear to be playing loan signing Jesse Lingard or Said Benrahma as a false nine, sticking Yarmolenko up top (he has played as a striker in Ukraine) or giving young Mipo Odubeko a full debut. 

What is clear is that Moyes clearly thought Haller was an unhappy player who didn't fit his system and wanted him out. While it also seems he doesn't rate King — and after Brexit it's much more difficult to sign a top class player from Europe. Moyes has always been methodical and analytical with transfers and is thinking long-term rather than short. He has earned our trust after a great first half of the season so we have to assume he knows what he is doing. 

The board maintain that Moyes was given £20m plus to spend on a striker during the window but couldn't find the right player. The test will come in the summer to see if he really does sign that top striker. If Moyes has resisted some suggested deals from David Sullivan and his agent friends that aren't right for the team then all well and good; but it's still a massive gamble to end the season with just one recognised striker.

Hammers undone by quality of Mersey

West Ham 1 Liverpool 3

Wasn't able to watch this as the Virgin Media users' link to Sky Sports had a server problem — though it was probably for the best. Listening on the radio the first half seems a tepid affair, though the best chance came when Fornals' deflected shot is headed off the line. What is disappointing is that West Ham don't really test Liverpool's makeshift centre back pairing of Henderson and Nat Phillips (who looked decent when he was up against Haller at Anfield). 

West Ham have a good chance to score in the second half as a great tackle from Dawson releases Bowen whose cross allows Antonio to spin and fire just wide of the post. Liverpool take the lead soon after. Sub Jones finds Salah who turns inside Cresswell onto his left foot and curls a typically classy effort into the corner. 

A corner seems to offer West Ham hope of an equaliser but it's headed clear and the Reds break to score in three passes. Alexander-Arnold finds Shaqiri on the left and his first-time long ball is expertly cushioned and swept past Fabianski by Mo Salah. A world class finish, though it's obviously poor to concede from our own corner. Some credit to poor old Yarmolenko though, who was the last man back trying to catch Salah.

West Ham heads drop and a burst of short passing sees Wijnaldum stroke home a third. At least the Irons keep going and Dawson is in the right place in the box to score from a late corner. 

Yes it was a weakened Liverpool side without Van Dijk and Mane, but the anger on some social media was strange as we'd been beaten by two world-class finishes. Still, it's progress to be annoyed at not beating the Champions even if the side could have gone at Liverpool more in the first half. It's a reality check as the cliche goes, but if we finish in the top eight it will be solid progress. 

As Moyes said, the side didn't play well, which will happen. The same Liverpool side won at Spurs a few days earlier and beat Palace 7-0 so it's no disgrace to lose to the Scousers. A better measure of progress will be next three games, all away, against Villa, Man United and Fulham.