Aha, Ben Bloom’s match report is with us.
That, then, is us done, so thanks all for your company and comments; peace out.
On which note, I was not unimpressed with West Ham tonight. Brentford are a good side and they made seven changes and deserved their draw. They’re much improved at the back, while going forward they have pace and conviction; at the weekend, though, they meet Man City, and the following one travel to Villa.
Cristian Romero returning is huge for Tottenham, not so much as regards the Champions League, but in the right against relegation (yes, if he can refrain from getting sent off).
Jarrod Bowen tells telly the QPR tie got their season going and the team want to win the Cup – it’s a dream of his. Confidence comes from winning games and though they needed penalties, that makes it more special because they can celebrate as a team. They’ve not been good enough this season but they’re playing better now, Leeds is a difficult game, and now he needs to rest up because 120 minutes isn’t good for the legs.
That Ouattara penalty is straight up one of the worst I’ve ever seen. I’ve no idea why on earth he thought that was the best thing to do in the circumstances: however good it looks, if the keeper doesn’t move, it’s saved. And he made such a performance of it all before striking the ball, I think Areola read him.
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West Ham United 2-2 Brentford, West Ham win 5-3 on penalties
Five brilliant pens from West Ham, one hilarious one from Ouattara, and it’s the Irons who go through to face Leeds at home in the last eight.
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GOAL! West Ham 5-3 Brentford (Mavrapanos)
Another one punched into the top-right!
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GOAL! West Ham 4-3 Brentford (Jensen)
Laces, middle, roof. West Ham now have one to win it!
GOAL! West Ham 4-2 Brentford (Soucek)
Another brilliant penalty, side-footed high into the net, not far from the top right. If Brentford miss their next one, they’re out.
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GOAL! West Ham 3-2 Brentford (Lewis-Potter)
Standard penalty from Lewis-Potter, drilled across his body and into the bottom left.
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GOAL! West Ham 3-1 Brentford (Wilson)
And that just makes it look worse, Wilson opening his body to punch a rising sidefooter into the top right.
SAVE! West Ham 2-1 Brentford (Ouattara)
Ouattara takes a deep breath, takes a lot of time, takes a big step, then chips down the middle … and Areola doesn’t move, so the ball plops into his arms! Oh man, that did not look good.
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GOAL! West Ham 2-1 Brentford (Castellanos)
Whacked hard and high down the middle, in off the underside; unsaveable.
GOAL! West Ham 1-1 Brentford (Igor Thiago)
Pause, keeper dives left, Thiago passes right. Chilled.
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GOAL! West Ham 1-0 Brentford (Bowen)
Swept hard, left-footed and right-hand side, halfway up.Kelleher goes the right way but the pace beats him.
West Ham to go first, at the Brentford end. Bowen has the ball…
“This has been an excellent advertisement for ‘straight to penalties’ instead of extra time,” says Andrew Goudie.
I don’t think there are many quality extra-times, but even if they’re not good, more football is better than less football and the good ones are worth the bad ones.
Though the sample-size is small, I’m certain we’re seeing better penalty shootouts than we used too – way more are going beyond five and beyond, because players are so confident in their technical ability. In that aspect, I don’t think there’s much difference between these teams.
FULL TIME: West Ham United 2-2 Brentford
Penalties it is.
120+2 min Now Brentford try and win it, Mavropanos just about introducing head to ball as a cross flies in, before Disasi dives in front of a shot to block, celebrating like he’s scored.
120+1 min Bowen goes down the right and when his cross is blocked at source, Wan-Bissaka collects. This time, the cross is cleared, Disasi running on to the ball at it zips into his stride, unleashing the fury of the gods into a shot from 25 that looks like it’s ripping the net but instead goes a foot over the bar. That would’ve been amazing.
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120 min Van den Berg goes up in front of Kellher, taking no chance and heading clear. West Ham have them boxed, though, Thiago clearing when Magassa humps one into the box. We’ll have two additional minutes.
119 min West Ham get it out to Wan-Bissaka, who finds Bowen, whose cross is bumped behind. Corner, and a chance to win it; we’re expecting two additional minutes.
118 min Brentford get the corner away.
117 min The winners get a home quarter-final with Leeds and West Ham want it, a sharp pass into Sumerville allowing him to funnel infield for Castellanos. From the edge, he shoots, and the ball flies off Van den Berg … and a yard over the top.
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115 min Summerville isn’t doing much in the way of chasing back, but he must surely have a knock not a twist or a pull because otherwise Nuno would surely have brought him off.
113 min The corner is swung in and Castellanos is up at the front post to make first contact. For a second, it looks like he’s done a Woltemade, but the ball flies behind for another corner. Summerville then returns, the next corner is also swung in, but from the other side, and the ball goes behind for a goalkick.
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112 min The quality in extra time has been low and, after Brentford win a corner, now Summerville is down; this is why Nuno didn’t start him, but he limps to his feet and looks like he’ll carry on. He must be OK, because were there a problem he’d have to be hooked given the matches West Ham have to come.
110 min Wilson has made a difference and again he cuts across the box from left to right, opting not to shoot and instead moving the ball on; it hits Lewis-Potter on the hand, but it was down by his side so no penalty.
110 min Soucek drives a great pass out to Wan-Bissaka then West Ham work the ball back over to the left, Summerville swinging in a decent cross which Van den Berg heads away well.
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108 min Summerville is late on someone, I didn’t quite see who, and swallows his insides, but the ref decides a foul is punishment enough.
106 min Nice from Castellanos, a touch earing him space and he finds Wilson, who takes the ball inside, getting closer to goal and hitting right-footed; the ball clips a defender and, having dived already, the keeper does really well to fling up an arm and claw away.
Changes: West Ham try Wilson for Fernandes, who I guess they’ll need at the weekend; Brentford bring on Furo for Schade.
HALF-TIME IN EXTRA TIME: West Ham United 2-2 Brentford
Penalties looks likely now, but both sides are still trying to win it.
105+1 min Schade scurries on to a pass from Ouattara and burrows into the box, squaring to Donovan, who sways waay to let the ball run across him, opening the angle for the left-footer into the top corner … but it’s too high. That was a great but difficult chance.
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103 min This has not been great stuff so far, and not because either side is trying not to lose. Both are looking for the win, there’s just been a lack of quality since the end of the 90, but here’s Lewis-Potter – he’s had a decent night – throwing feet over the ball and shifting it, hitting the line to send a cross racing through the corridor. Anyone attacks that, it’s an almost certain goal.
101 min Mavrapanos leaps to flick a cross away and Ouattara picks up the ball, looking to attack Wan-Bissaka on the outside. For a second, it looks like a challenge is coming, but the defender pulls out, the attacker hits the deck anyway, and does well to avoid a card for diving.
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100 min “Greetings from the game,” says Ian Sargeant. “Re the penalty, I’m too far away to see but, to answer Simon Kaplan, Van de Ven’s dismissal had outstanding comedy value. Was that the difference between the two?”
98 min Lovely ball from Van den Berg to Thiago, who goes on the outside of Disasi and, from a tight angle, drills a low shot which Areola dives to shove away.
97 min West Ham have a free-kick out on the right and again, Fernandes bangs a fine ball towards Soucek at the back post – he hits those with his laces and they’re really hard to defend. This tie, though, the ball carries through to Kellher.
96 min Change for Brentford, Van den Berg replacing Ajer.
95 min Now Brentford knock it about, West Ham strung out along the box in a back six. So Lewis-Potter goes at Bowen on the outside, beating him to cross low … but picking out one of the various defenders.
93 min Brentford were the better side in the final minutes of the 90, but it’s West Ham looking stronger now, looking to pick holes. As I type, Summerville pings one out to Wan-Bissaka, who takes the ball back in a central position, feeds Mayers … and his cross goes behind.
91 min “Can someone please explain to me why Lacroix having a finger on Cunha’s shoulder in the vicinity of the box is a red card,” says Ray Ward, '“but shoving someone about to head the ball into an empty net is a yellow? Thanks.”
As per the below, I need to see it again, but Lacrooiz was sent off for panicking at making a desperate foul. Also, the fingers on shoulder are at the very end of the foul – though Cunha made sure to get the penalty, there’s more contact on the line prior to that point, if I remember correctly.
91 min We go again…
Change for West Ham: Wan-Bissaka replaces Walker-Peters.
“Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven recently conceded a penalty against Crystal Palace for tugging at Sarr, and was sent off for DOGSO, as there was no attempt to play the ball,” notes Simon Kaplan. “Summerville just conceded a penalty against Brentford for pushing Kayode, also with no attempt to play the ball and didn’t even get booked. The same referee!”
I didn’t get a good look at it as I’m watching on a phone and it jumped after the incident, so I’ve not seen a replay. But on first viewing, it seemed to me like Summerville was close enough to Kayode to leave an element of doubt as to whether a foul was the only thing on his mind. Summerville was booked, though.
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FULL TIME: West Ham United 2-2 Brentford
Extra time it is. Both sides look capable of winning it without the need for penalties.
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90+4 min Kayode throws flat to the near post, and the ball goes through to Areola, who claims.
90+4 min Ouattara again moves down the left and finds space for a cross, Soucek sliding in to clear. Throw to Brentford, 30 seconds to go…
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90+1 min West Ham have defended these well and do so again, clearing for Fernandes to only just miss sliding Bowen in behind and away.
90 min We’ll have four additional minutes. Can either side create a chance to win it? Well, Brentford win a throw deep inside the West Ham half and up go the shtarkers.
89 min Lovely touch from Donovan, who takes the ball out of the air just above the ground and transfers it into stride … so Soucek hauls him down at cost of a yellow card.
89 min Bowen slides in behind for Castellanos, but Ajer is wise to the ruse, scooting across to tackle.
88 min I should say, there’s still no coverage, so I’m still relying on my phone.
87 min Change for Brentford, Donovan replacing Damsgaard – who was quiet in the first half but whose interventions have been important after the break.
85 min Lovely ball from Bowen releases Summerville, whose cross has nae takers. Both sides are going for the win in 90.
84 min Damsgaard takes a pass from Lewis-Potter and, with the outside of his boot, guides a delectable return-pass between to defenders to meet the run of his mate. Lewis-Potter goes outside his man and laces a low cross that needs just a touch to finish except Thiago isn’t in the middle and, at the back stick, Kayode is on his heels.
83 min If that’s us done with the scoring, we’ll go to extra time and then penalties.
GOAL! West Ham United 2-2 Brentford (Igor Thiago pen 81)
Thiago stutters, pauses, and laces left-middle; Areola barely moves, but had he gone the right way, he’d have saved it.
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PENALTY TO BRENTFORD!
80 min Outtara, who’s played well, nashes down the left and stands up a cross to the back post, Areola flapping underneath it. But, just as Kayode prepares to nod home, Summerville shoves him; he’s booked, and I’d be shocked if VAR finds a reason to overturn.
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79 min Brentford counter down the left…
78 min After a really good first half, what we’ve seen since has been disappointing. But here comes Bowen, running at Collins off the right and shifting it outside him, opening a shooting lane. He leathers a riser towards the near-post top corner, but Kellher tips behind for a corner, then does a good job clearing his lines when Bowen whips a dangerous ball under the bar.
76 min Another change for West Ham, Magassa replacing Kante.
76 min West Ham look as likely to score a third as Brentford do a second. They’re full of confidence, moving the ball nicely and not scared to backwards to go forwards.
74 min Brentford don’t clear the corner properly, so Bowen tries a cross and this time the ball does go away. I’d hoped for more from Keith Andrews’ side, especially in the second half.
73 min Nice from West Ham down the left, Summerville into Mayers, who flicks behind him only to be felled by Collins. He does well to avoid a booking.
71 min We see Trevor Brooking in the stands; you’ve really got to admire his hairline and dedication to the side parting.
70 min Brentford are upping the pressure, but West Ham are, as you’d expect from a Nuno team, pretty comfortable sitting in a low block, and the latest ball in is shepherded back to Areola.
67 min Brentford haven’t really threatened this half but they win a corner down the left which Outtara swings in; Areola does well to scoop away from under bar then, when a throw follows, he again does enough, Disasi subsequently clearing. So Henderson shoots from distance, a deflection looping the ball into the air for the keeper to catch.
65 min Bowen loops a fine switch out to Summerville which puts him one-on-one with Kayode, who’s having a difficult evening. He gets to the line, keeping the ball in, then cuts back and Soucek arrives on to it, his shot well blocked by Collins.
63 min Brentford send on Jensen for Yarmolyuk, then win a throw deep inside the West Ham half. So Kayode hurls in, Mavrapanos makes first contact, and Fernandes turns cleverly on the edge to clear.
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62 min West Ham have played well since half-time and, as I type, Kante finds Summerville who veers away from Yarmolyuk at quite some pace, wearing the inevitable retaliatory foul.
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61 min Righto, I’ve found pictures on my phone. West Ham have replaced Pablo with Castellanos.
And here’s Daniel Harris again …
57 min: Mavropanos hoofs a clearance miles … nearly bringing Pablo, up top, into play.
56 min: Hello, folks. Summerville, on at half-time, shows off those silky feet, jinking away at the edge of the area before his shot is deflected for a corner … Bowen’s ball in finds the hands of Kelleher.
50 min Taha Hashim is going to take over until I’m back with pictures.
48 min Afraid I’m not getting coverage on desktop, laptop or phone; I guess there’s an issue with the app. I’m working on it.
46 min We’re under way again, with West Ham making two changes: Scarles, who struggled with Outtara, is replaced by Ezra Mayers, while Crysencio Summerville replaces Traore. He’s in great form; look for him on the counter at Brentford seek an equaliser.
Er, my discovery+ has stopped working, and it’s not working on my phone either. Hopefully it’ll be back soon.
Half-time reading:
HALF-TIME: West Ham United 2-1 Brentford
This is a really fun tussle, and I’d be shocked if it finishes 2-1.
45+5 min Henderson leaps for a high ball with Kante and, from quite some height, lands on his arm. That looked pretty sore, but after treatment he’s up and looks like he’ll be able to continue.
45+4 min West Ham win a free-kick on the right and Fernandes drills a terrific ball into the middle, Soucek lanking on to it to punish a downward header … which Kelleher tips away superbly.
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45+3 min Scarles curls in a superb delivery and, at the back post, Soucek is up, heading hard … only for Kelleher to claw away from under the bar. The ball, though, hits Disasi who, six yards out, lets it drop then swings a foot to put his side 3-1 up …. only to connect with fresh air.
45+2 min Bowen looks to flick by Lewis-Potter and though the move doesn’t work out, he bundles through him to scavenge a corner.
45+1 min We’ll have six additional minutes.
45 min Brentford maintain pressure, earning another opportunity for Kayode to throw into the box. Again, Collins makes first contact, but this time Soucek is on-hand to clear.
44 min Ouattara’s delivery is excellent too, the ball whipped in and well met by Collins, who flicks hard with his head. The effort looks goalbound too, but Scarles is well-placed to butt clear.
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43 min Brentford again push forward, winning a corner down the right; the big lads come up from the back.
41 min The resultant corner comes to nowt. There’s been a terrific tempo to this half, which has flown by.
40 min …but it’s not a penalty. Fernandes got a decent touch on the ball, the contact which followed deemed inevitable. That’s excellent, sensible work from VAR, and no, I’ve not been hacked.
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39 min VAR wants a look; I fear for West Ham…
39 min Damsgaaard checks in centrefield to send a lovely pass out to Outtara, who takes it on the right, cutting inside Scarles, who puts an arm on his shoulder but doesn’t quite do enough to concede the penalty. The ball, though, runs on to Schade, but Fernandes comes across to challenge … and is that a foul? I think he trod on his foot…
38 min Lewis-Potter weaves forward between three defenders and, just as he looks likely to run out of pitch, Walker-Peters considers sliding in, thinking better of it just in time. Decent run, but.
36 min That Henderson pass, by the way, was an absolute dog, played blind and with little purpose. I’m sure he’ll hold his hands up and all the other cliches that come with the exhibition leadership he enjoys.
GOAL! West Ham United 2-1 Brentford (Bowen pen 34)
Kellher moves right and Bowen, now on a hat-trick, rolls left. This is a decent contest.
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PENALTY TO WEST HAM!
The ref sees what he must surely have seen in the first place – and if he didn’t why is he even there?
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31 min Yup, to VAR we go, and this is going to be a penalty for West Ham, I’m certain … and yet.
30 min West Ham pump it downfield, Brentford half-clear, and Henderson, 25 yards from goal, cushions a pass … which Traore intercepts, moving into the box. So Kayode panics, trips him, and the ref waves play on, presumably relying on VAR to save him. The game proceeds.
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29 min Nope, it’s a goal, and it belongs to Thiago not Collins. That’s 20 for the season for him; what a signing.
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29 min Yes it did hit Thiago, but no he wasn’t offside – a man on the near side played him on. I can’t believe they’ll deem this handball.
29 min But Var wants a look: did the ball hit Thiago, if so was he offside, and if not, was it on the arm?
GOAL! West Ham United 1-1 Brentford (Collins 28)
This time, Kayode goes short, to Outtara, who shmies inside then twinkles outside Scarles, beaten far too easily. He stands up a cross and, with no pace on the ball, Collins has to severely crank his neck muscles, leaping backwards to head down and past Areola.
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28 min Brentford win another throw in a dangerous position, this time down the right.
27 min Traore into Bowen, who turns nicely round the corner for Pablo, on the left of the box. He might hit it immediately, but instead checks and eventually concedes a free-kick.
26 min West Ham Almost-Reserves are better than Tottenham. As Olive would say, they’re not alone.
25 min Brentford win a throw down the left, Kayode swapping flanks to hurl it in. A West Ham head, though, makes first contact, then Yarmoliuk thrashes miles away form anywhere, so somewhere towards the stand behind the goal.
24 min I did, though, enjoy this very much.
23 min "“Just to carry on the Fulham-related theme,” begins Richard Hirst, “why do the words ‘Traore having let him go’ not surprise me in the least? If he was still at the Cottage he would definitely have been playing yesterday!”
When he was at Wolves, I was really excited to see the player he’d become. It’s a shame it’s not worked out like that because he was an original talent who had the potential to grow into something really interesting.
22 min Fernandes drives through midfield, sliding a pass into Walker-Peters’ stride … but the cross is a poor one. Still, though, West Ham sense opportunity, Bowen into Pablo who attempted roulette doesnae come off.
GOAL! West Ham United 1-0 Brentford (Bowen 20)
Bowen’s corner hits the first man but the clearance finds Fernandes, out on the right, who chops inside smoothly then curls a delectable cross into the middle. Soucek is up early, knocking down, and from a yard or two back, Bowen is first to react, poking home from a couple of yards. He has got to be the greatest Hammer of the last decade, at the same time as being an all-time great.
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19 min Walker-Peters takes the ball nicely on the half-turn, finding Pablo, whose shot is blocked behind.
18 min Traore turns Kayode and bounces away from him, moving from out to in and opening a shooting lane. But from the edge, he drags wide what he manufactured into a reasonable opportunity.
16 min Brentford are the better team now, Kayode finding Outtara who turns the ball into space with the outside of his foot, chasing after it and, when Scarles comes over to challenge, sells him a bag of chips that isn’t there, feinting outside to move inside. Seeking Thiago, he stands up a cross, but Mavrapanos leaps to flick away.
13 min Kayode, by the way, is another player good enough for the highest level. Obviously you get the bonus of the throw-ins, but those aside, he can fill in on either side, is strong, has recovery pace, and isn’t scared to get forward. I’m excited to see how he develops.
11 min Schade wins a challenge in midfield and plays infield to Outtara, who hooks back to him. He espies Kayode marching forward from right-back, Traore having let him go, and this is a chance! But the shot is high-percentage, low and straight at Areola who, rather than let it through his legs, saves with his feet. Kayode really ought to have done better – he had the option of power or finesse and picked neither, instead finishing Lukaku-style, picking the option it’s hardest to mess up and, in the process, giving the keeper a chance when he might’ve had none.
8 min I mentioned him a moment ago, and I’m a big fan of Matheus Fernandes; I’d not be surprised if he was at a Champions League club next season. What I especially like about him is his excellence in all phases of midfield play: he’s press-resistant enough to take the ball off the defence, can carry or pass it through the middle, and has the vision to create in the final third. To what level he can do all of these remains to be seen, but he’s looking to contribute in all those aspects.
7 min The aforementioned away pyjamas.
5 min Fernandes spreads to Traore but puts too much on the pass, forcing his mate to let it hit his head. He chases back to recover it, though, only for brentford to move forward with Damsgaard. He squares to meet the stride of Henderson, arriving on to the ball just outside the box … and the rising shot flies a yard or two wide.
5 min Keane Lewis-Potter sounds more like a midfield three than a right-back.
3 min West Ham have made changes but they’re looking to get after it, Pablo wining possession inside his own half before finding Bowen and carrying his run on into the box; the return-pass has too much on it.
3 min The corner is cleared to the edge, where Scarles waves a foot, sending a shot high and wide.
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2 min Now it’s West Ham with the long ball, finding Bowen in centrefield. He megs Lewis-Potter, ploughs forward, and hits a shot which is deflected behind.
1 min Ajer slings a long one over the top and Schade is on to it, left side of the box and allowing the ball ro drop before lashing over the bar.
1 min Brentford set us away. Given the side Nuno’s sent out, they’ll surely fancy themselves.
Our teams come out, Brentford wearing their away pyjamas.
Where is the game? Despite the changes, in Jarrod Bowen and Matheus Fernandes, West Ham have two game-changers in forward positions, and they’ll be expected to provide invention and counter-attacking threat, likewise Adam Traore.
Brentford, meanwhile, will look to Thiago to move about and run in behind if and when there’s space, with the full-backs pushing on to support the wingers, stretch the pitch and sling crosses into the box.
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The winners tonight face Leeds at home for a semi-final spot. That’s a pretty nifty reward, especially with one of Liverpool and Man City disappearing.
“Fulham’s ‘nine changes’s aren’t really what they seem,” says Graham Leggit. “There were four changes for the previous game against West Ham earlier in the week, some switched back. Muniz, Chuckweze and Anderson are just back from injury and needed a start – theoretically against lower-league opposition should have been an ideal place. For the manager, a sense of urgency is probably difficult to maintain throughout a long season. From what I heard on the radio, despite having 24 shots, that was the main problem.”
Yeah, I saw the midweek changes, but the best players in the squad were left on the bench – I don’t think that can be challenged. Of course the side selected should still have beaten Soton at home, but it’s not easy to find cohesion in that situation, especially when the manager has effectively told his team he’s not that arsed but thinks they should win anyway.
As for Brentford, they make just three changes – Keith Andrews knows this is a chance. Rico Henry is injured, so drops out with Keane Lewis-Potter coming in; otherwise, Kristoffer Ajer and Yehor Yarmoliuk replace the rotated Sepp van den Berg and Mathias Jensen.
Back to those teams, Nuno makes seven changes to the side which won at Fulham in midweek. In come Alphonse Areola, Kyle Walker-Peters, Ollie Scarles, Dinos Mavropanos, Mohamadou Kanté, Adama Traore and Pablo Felipe, with Mats Hermansen, Aaron Wan-Bissaja, Jean-Clair Todibo, El-Hadji Diouf, Crysencio Summerville, Valentin Castellanos and Callum wilson dropping out.
Quarter-final draw
Southampton v Arsenal
Chelsea v Port Vale
Manchester City v Liverpool
West Ham or Brentford v Leeds United
Ties to be played on the weekend of 4th and 5th April 2026.
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The teams
West Ham: Areola, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Disasi, Scarles, Soucek, Kanté, Bowen, Fernandes, Traoré, Pablo
Subs: Herrick, Kilman, Summerville, Wilson, Castellanos, Magassa, Wan-Bissaka, Potts, Mayers
Brentford: Kelleher, Lewis-Potter, Collins, Ajer, Kayode, Henderson, Yarmolyuk, Schade, Damsgaard, Ouattara, Igor Thiago
Subs: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Jensen, Donovan, Furo, Bentt, Shield, Stephenson
Preamble
In 147 years of existence, Fulham have won the FA Cup a grand total of zero times. Currently, they sit 10th in the Premier League, well clear of relegation with a Conference League spot possible but unlikely.
But what has that to do with a game between West Ham and Brentford? Well, following the midweek round of fixtures, Marco Silva made nine changes to his team, behaviour more craven than the Cottage itself, and they duly lost at home to Southampton, their shot at glory gone – to what end?
It may be that Nuno Espírito Santo feels compelled to do similarly this evening, with West Ham stuck in a relegation ruckus – though it makes just as much sense that, after a fine away win, he seeks to sustain momentum. Keith Andrews, though, has no such aggravation, Brentford lying seventh in the table and in good enough form to think progress in the Cup will elevate rather than undermine their quest for a European spot.
Ultimately, football is about moments and memories, experiences that live forever and are passed down through generations. As guardians of their clubs, it is for managers to chase these, not refuse them fearful of their own inability to stave off subsequent unspecified misfortune; just ask Oliver Glasner, Brendan Rodgers of Roberto Martínez all of them now immortal after giving Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Wigan Athletic fans perhaps the greatest day of their lives. There are no reasons, only excuses; no prudence, only cowardice.
Kick-off: 7.30pm GMT
