Hammers into last 16 as Blades deliver relief from league woes
WEST HAM secured safe passage into the last 16 of the FA Cup after they thrashed League One side Doncaster Rovers 4-0 at the London Stadium.
Pablo Fornals got the Hammers off the mark in the second minute after striding onto a cross from Ryan Fredericks to fire into the net from 10 yards.
Andriy Yarmolenko made it two just after the half-hour mark, taking a pass from Said Benrahma before chipping over Rovers keeper Ellery Balcombe.
An own goal from Andy Butler made it three for the east London side before Oladapo Afolayan rounded off what was a fifth win in a row for boss David Moyes.
West Ham will face Premier League leaders Manchester United or Liverpool, who play today, in the next round.
Sheffield United found some light relief from their Premier League woes as they overcame Plymouth 2-1 at Bramall Lane.
Veteran defender Chris Basham opened the scoring on 39 minutes with his first goal since a 1-0 win away to Leeds in the Championship in March 2019.
Billy Sharp then made it two shortly after half-time after running on to a pass from Oliver Norwood, the Blades star exhibiting his deft first touch and accomplished finishing to ease the ball past keeper Michael Cooper.
Panutche Camara gave League One Plymouth a lifeline on 75 minutes but Chris Wilder’s strugglers held on for a muchneeded victory.
Sheffield United will play Bristol City after the Robins earned their place in the last 16 with a 3-0 victory over Millwall at the Den. Famara Diedhiou got Bristol off the mark from the penalty spot on 32 minutes after the Senegalese was hauled down by Milwall keeper Frankie Fielding.
A deflected free-kick from Nahki Wells made it two. Bermudan Wells then slipped in Antoine Semenyo to put the game beyond doubt 18 minutes from time.
Steven Alzate grabbed a very fortunate winner for Brighton in their 2-1 victory over Blackpool at the Amex Stadium.
The Premier League outfit were labouring in the second half with the score 1-1 after Yves Bissouma’s 27th minute screamer was cancelled out by the Tangerines’ Gary Madine in first-half stoppage time – but lady luck smiled on the Seagulls when a wild and speculative effort from Alexis Mac Allister struck Alzate’s backside and deflected into the net. Brighton now face either Brentford or Leicester in the next round.
Callum Styles grabbed the only goal of the game as Barnsley edged out Norwich 1-0 at the Oakwell to set up a potential tie against Chelsea in the next round.
Frank Lampard’s side take on Luton today and will be expected to advance but memories are still fresh of their 2008 FA Cup meeting when a Kayode Odejayi goal dumped the Blues, then managed by Avram Grant, out of the competition.