Dawson rises to the challenge for Moyes
CRAIG DAWSON spared West Ham’s blushes as they progressed to the FA Cup fourth round with a 1- 0 victory over non- league Stockport at a sodden Edgeley Park.
The driving rain left the pitch resembling a mud bath at full- time and largely negated the gulf in class between the sides, with Stockport having a couple of half- chances to claim one of the round’s biggest upsets. But the Premier League side, 86 places above their Vanarama National League opponents, avoided a giant- killing as Dawson headed home from Jarrod Bowen’s right- wing cross seven minutes from time to book a date with Doncaster in the fourth round.
David Moyes had made five changes to his line- up from the Premier League win at Everton on New Year’s Day, with Ben Johnson, Mark Noble, Andriy Yarmolenko, Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio all drafted in.
But it was still a line- up containing seven internationals against a side who had reached this stage of the competition for the first time since 2007, and with Wayne Rooney’s younger brother, John, in their ranks.
They showed plenty of resolve, especially at the back to snuff out several Hammers forays, but their attentions will now turn to a return to the Football League.
Meanwhile, Manchester United will host Premier League champions Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round.
Last night’s draw pitched 12- time winners United into battle with Jurgen Klopp’s men, who beat a coronavirushit Aston Villa side to book their place.
David Moyes ( right) and Darren Randolph are all smiles after West Ham secured their passage to the fourth round
National League North side Chorley’s reward for their victory over a depleted Derby was a home tie with Premier League Wolves.
League Two Crawley, who dumped top- flight Leeds out of the competition in the third round, face a trip to Sky Bet Championship promotion hopefuls Bournemouth.
Fourth- tier counterparts Cheltenham, however, were rewarded for their win over Mansfield with a home tie against Premier League giants Manchester City.
Tottenham, 5- 0 third- round winners at Marine of the Northern Premier League North West Division, are on the road again, with Championship strugglers Wycombe this time providing the opposition.
Chairboys manager Gareth Ainsworth is relishing the clash, having been in charge when Wycombe pushed them all the way at White Hart Lane in 2017.
Ainsworth told the club’s Twitter account: “My phone hasn’t stopped. It’s great. What a fantastic tie for a club like Wycombe Wanderers.
“I’m so proud and so honoured to have led them again into round four for the third time in our history and ironically we get the same team that we got last time.
“We think it will pick the lads up. We think everyone’s going to be on it to play in that game.”