That was an excellent performance from Manchester City, and a dreadful one from West Ham. City played with verve and skill for 90 minutes, and fully deserved their margin of victory, but West Ham were dismal. They gave City time and space, and just failed to muster anything in attack. Maybe it would have been different if Feghouli hadn’t missed a sitter at 0-1, but West Ham were well beaten. This truly was a thrashing, and City become the first team to book a fourth-round place.
Well done to them. We’re going to wrap this blog up now. Thanks for reading. Bye!
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Full-time: West Ham 0-5 Man City
Michael Oliver puts West Ham out of their misery and blows up. City are into the fourth round.
87 min Agüero runs clear in the inside-right channel, but he shoots for goal instead of squaring it for Sterling, who is livid at not getting the pass. He would have had a tap-in. That was greedy from Agüero!
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85 min Stones shrugged off Nordtveit and planted a firm header past Adrian from 12 yards. Noble, on the line, did his best to clear the danger, but the whole ball had gone over, and the decision review system said goal. This is a trouncing.
GOAL! West Ham 0-5 Man City (Stones 84)
Blimey. Five-nil!
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82 min Agüero nearly goes through for a fifth, but Adrian is quickly out to get a vital toe on it. Corner to City.
81 min Is this City’s best away performance in the FA Cup since they, as a second-tier team, tonked then-Premier League Ipswich 4-1 in 2002? Berkovic and Bernabia ran the game that day, as I recall. And Shaun Goater with a couple of goals?
78 min Another lovely nutmeg from Payet, but he can’t quite work the room for the shot. Antonio had a couple of efforts in the first half, but West Ham haven’t really tested Caballero in this second. They just haven’t played very well tonight.
76 min City do make the change, and Delph is on for Touré.
75 min Fabian Delph looked set to replace Yaya Touré, but then Sagna went down after taking an accidental finger in the eye from Cresswell, so City are just waiting to make the change.
73 min Free kick to West Ham 35 yards from goal, and Payet fires it straight out of play for a goal kick. An apt summation of West Ham’s attacking endeavours.
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71 min Ashley Fletcher replaces Michail Antonio in West Ham’s final change.
70 min Not much happening, to be honest. Man City know the game’s won, and West Ham just look like they want to go home.
69 min Tom Sullivan has a thought on brand values: “To answer JR in Illinois, I’m pretty sure that’s marketing-speak for ‘get rid of the oiks.’”
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67 min Another changes for City: De Bruyne departs, and Aleix Garcia is on.
65 min A period of possession for Man City after that mild West Ham flurry. Here’s Tim Hall: “Having noted half-time’s three wise men on the BBC – Roasted Peanut, Frank and Wrighty, all dark suits looking like pallbearers, which on reflection, seems about right for West Ham just now.”
64 min Payet loops one high and long, but City clear, and now they can counter-attack. Sterling goes through the middle with pace and verve, but West Ham get bodies back and Nordtveit gets a decisive touch to deny a fifth goal.
63 min Headed clear by Stones. But West Ham recycle it and Feghouli wins another corner. This is more like it!
62 min Lovely nutmeg from Payet, who’s done more in two minutes that the rest of the Hammers have done all game, practically. Nordtveit crosses from the right, and Antonio almost gets on the end of it. Corner to West Ham, and this is better.
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59 min Payet has effected an immediate improvement, and City are on the back foot for a moment. Here’s JR in Illinois: “Looks like the the extremely successful stadium move is continuing apace with an extended cup run. Also, probably because of all the winning, I never quite figured out what Karren Brady meant when she said that West Ham had “a real opportunity to change the brand values of the club”. Little help?”
Anyone?
57 min City make their first change, and Nolito replaces David Silva, who’s been top-class. His weight of pass and close control is just top-notch, isn’t it? One of my favourite players. And West Ham replace Carroll and Lanzini, who have done nothing, with Noble and Payet.
56 min Sterling looks to have a shot at goal, but it won’t quite sit for him, and West Ham clear. But City win it back immediately. They’re under no pressure at all.
53 min City could win this six or seven-nil if they wanted to. West Ham just haven’t played in this second half. It’s all extremely flat, and City, with about 35 minutes left, are just playing keep-ball.
51 min West Ham just didn’t defend the corner. Sterling skinned Obiang, and teed up Touré. His shot was slightly mishit, but Agüero, sniffing a goal, reacted quickest and turned it past Adrian from about four yards. West Ham, I’m afraid to say, have been pathetic, and one or two fans are heading for the exits.
GOAL! West Ham 0-4 Man City (Agüero 50)
Oh dear. This tie really is over now.
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49 min Feghouli concedes a cheap corner, and West Ham have work to do defensively. Oh, that was nearly four! Stones won the header and Adrian had to be alert to stop Otamendi tapping in, and then in the second phase, Agüero clearly handballed before rifling a shot that Adrian had to turn over. Another corner.
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47 min David Silva really rolled back the years in that first half – he was terrific. And Agüero produced two defence-splitting balls for goals No2 and No3. Excellent work from the pair of them.
46 min We’re back. No changes from either side, but expect Payet to enter if things don’t change very soon.
This tie isn’t over yet, but West Ham need to improve significantly. Man City were much the better team in the first half. The Hammers are in need some serious oomph.
Jonathan Hill writes: “Much has been made of the Manchester Citeh “project” and the academy and facilities have been widely lauded. Yet, Pep decides to play Pablo Zabaleta in midfield instead of any homegrown youngster? Either the academy narrative is tosh (unlikely, given the honours the junior teams have won in recent years) or Pep has more in common with Mourinho than we thought.”
Drew Goldie has an opinion on that open goal miss/possible penalty shout: “Feghouli didn’t think it was a foul, which probably is an answer.”
Half-time: West Ham 0-3 Man City
A smattering of boos from the home as the players exit. City have been clearly superior, but the first penalty award was soft, and there was some suggestion that Clichy fouled Feghouli and should have gone just afterwards. Whatever the rights and wrongs, City have one foot in the fourth round: they’ve been excellent. West Ham well below-par.
See you shortly for the second half.
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45 min Two minutes of stoppage time. Chris Lewis asks: “Can you explain why penalties are never given against a defender who clatters a striker in the act of shooting? Clichy fouled Feghouli, and it was that foul which put Feghouli off and caused the miss. Penalty and sending off surely?”
Ah, interesting. I’d have to see back on the replay. On first glance it looked as though Feghouli had just missed an open goal, but yeah, if the touch from Clichy was decisive, I guess he should have been dismissed. I need to see it again to be sure.
44 min Another decisive attacking move from City. Sterling ran beyond the backline, and all of a sudden they had a three on one: Sterling crossed for Silva, who was all alone in the penalty box, and he waited and waited, dummied Adrian, and slotted home. Much too easy for Man City, and this is turning into a rout.
GOAL! West Ham 0-3 Man City (David Silva 42)
Brilliant again from the visitors, and it’s a sorry looking scoreline for West Ham.
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42 min Just a superb move from Man City. Silva had it on the halfway line, found Agüero, and he released Sagna down the right with a lovely delayed pass. Sagna ran past Ogbonna, and his cross was a peach. Nordtveit could only divert it past Adrian under pressure from Sterling. Super goal.
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GOAL! West Ham 0-2 Man City (Nordtveit og 41)
That’s a magnificent goal, and City lead 2-0!
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38 min Better from West Ham, and they win a corner, but City do well, and Caballero claims. Touré is a dead-eye from the penalty spot, by the way:
13 - Yaya Toure has converted each of his 13 penalties for Manchester City in all competitions. Certainty.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 6, 2017
36 min That really was a sitter. How did Feghouli miss? He kind of jabbed at the ball, and just got it all wrong. It should be 1-1.
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34 min Oh, Feghouli! How did he miss? Caballero saved from Antonio, but managed only to push it out to Feghouli, six yards out, who seemed certain to score … but he got it all wrong and diverted it back from where it came! What a chance for West Ham. Bilic can’t believe it.
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33 min Touré tucked it away confidently, and Man City have a deserved lead. But the penalty was contentious. It was brilliant play from David Silva, and his reverse ball found Zabaleta chugging forward. Ogbonna came across, and there was maybe the slightest contact: Zabaleta went down, and Michael Oliver pointed to the spot. Ogbonna certainly didn’t get the ball, but was there sufficient contact for a penalty award?
GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Man City (Touré 32 pen)
And Touré strokes it beyond Adrian. City lead!
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Penalty to Man City!
Ogbonna on Zabaleta! Ooh, it looked soft. Was there really much contact?
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30 min Stones looks long for De Bruyne, in space by the left touchline, but he can’t quite control it, and it’s out for a throw-in. West Ham are on the back foot here: they could do with a spell of possession.
28 min The pass from Silva was weighted to perfection, and Sterling’s run was excellent, but he just took a second too long with the shot. City looking in control here, though.
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27 min That was almost a lovely goal from City! Aguero found David Silva in space, and Silva’s pass for Sterling, running through, was inch-perfect … but Sterling dallied, and West Ham got players back to block! From the corner, Agüero slams one from the edge of the box, but Adrian tips over! Good save from the keeper, albeit one he was expected to make. The second corner is wasted, disappointingly.
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25 min Silva floats one over the top for Agüero, running beyond, but West Ham have sufficient players back to clear the dangers. Moments previously, Touré clipped Obiang, but no whistle from Michael Oliver.
22 min Lovely slick passing from Man City, but then Zabaleta gives it away. Is Guardiola’s desire to turn Zabaleta into a Philipp Lahm-style defensive midfielder doomed to fail?
20 min City have done well so far, but you wouldn’t know it, judging from Pep Guardiola’s expression. As Hubert O’Hearn points out:
@timmyhilleh Pep looks about as happy as a condemned man left a stack of Ingmar Bergman DVDs and a bowl of cold asparagus for a final meal.
— Hubert O'Hearn (@BTBReviews) January 6, 2017
19 min Ooh, that was late from Sterling on Nordtveit. He seemed to catch him right on the top of the ankle. No card, though, and Reid can’t get on the end of the free kick.
17 min Better from West Ham, and Feghouli looks for Carroll from the right wing, but it’s a foul on Sagna, and Man City win the free kick.
14 min Caballero beats one away from Antonio! Good turn on the edge of the box from the West Ham player, and he shot quickly, but it was central, and Caballero made a routine save.
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13 min More space for Clichy on the left side, and he finds David Silva, who had run beyond the defender, but Adrian saves with his feet! The angle was against him, but he didn’t quite get the power, and it was a comfortable save for Adrian. That’s two clear chances that City have created, though.
11 min First look for Michail Antonio on the left side, but Sagna tackles him cleanly. Good defending.
9 min My hunch is that Touré would have finished that. Regardless, City have started well. Their passing is crisp, and they’re on top.
7 min A superb, lavish pass from de Bruyne releases David Silva on the right side. Silva toys with Ogbonna, advances into the box, and picks out Zabaleta, whose shot is blocked by Reid! A brilliant first pass, an incisive second, and Zabaleta probably should have done better. The Argentinian did well to support the play, but his shot lacked conviction. Chance.
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5 min Stones gets free but heads over. A presentable chance.
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4 min A slightly nervy moment for City as Stones passes back to Caballero and leaves him short, but the goalie is quickly out to cover the danger. City with the lion’s share of possession in the opening five minute, and up the other end Sterling wins a corner off Nordtveit.
2 min Sterling has started in an advanced position, with De Bruyne on the left to begin with. But expect that to change.
1 min And we’re off. City get us under way, in their sky blue with white socks. West Ham in traditional claret and blue. Feghouli with an early blast after some good skill to go past Kevin de Bruyne, but it’s well over the top.
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The players are out on the pitch. We’re moments away.
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On the World Cup, here’s Dylan Drummond with an alternative view: “As a Scotland and Finland supporter, I like the idea that tinpot rubbish national football teams will soon have better chances to qualify for the World Cup and get knocked out in the mini-group stages or in the last 32.
“The World Cup is the world’s most important festival – practically everyone watches it. And it’s a cup … five knockout rounds is better than four. More World Cup! More participating countries! Jose is right. Unusually, but still.”
We’re about 10 minutes away from kick-off. And it’s pleasing to see that both coaches have picked strong lineups. I know the FA Cup isn’t what is was, and the filthy rich Premier and Champions Leagues trump all, but a cracking cup tie in front of a large crowd on a cold January evening still has a certain je ne sais quoi. Let’s hope for mild delight tonight.
Some pre-match reading: José Mourinho says a 48-team World Cup would be good. José, you’re wrong!
We think West Ham will line up 4-3-3, with Antonio and Feghouli flanking Andy Carroll. City, by contrast, look more like 4-2-3-1, with Zabaleta chugging along beside Yaya Touré. Although who knows for sure.
Two strong-looking line-ups. Slaven Bilic makes three changes from the side that lost to Man United: out go Randolph, Kouyate and Payet, and in come Adrian, Fernandes and Andy Carroll. (The latter’s inclusion means we can reasonably expect the mixer to feature heavily this evening.) Guardiola makes five changes from the side that started the match against Burnley: Caballero, Stones, Zabaleta, Silva and Agüero are all included, and there’s a place on the bench for Fabian Delph.
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Tonight's teams
West Ham: Adrian, Nordtveit, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Fernandes, Obiang, Feghouli, Lanzini, Antonio, Carroll. Subs: Randolph, Noble, Fletcher, Payet, Calleri, Oxford, Quina.
Man City: Caballero, Sagna, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy, Toure, Zabaleta, De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Aguero. Subs: Nolito, Kolarov, Jesus Navas, Delph, Iheanacho, Garcia, Bravo.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
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Hello and welcome
Another year, another big weekend of FA Cup third-round action, and this is arguably the tie of the round: West Ham play Man City in a tasty all-Premier League affair, in a competition that hasn’t always been that kind to either side. West Ham have won the cup three times, but not since 1980; City won in 2011, but have only five FA Cup triumphs to their name, seven behind Man United and Arsenal’s record of 12.
For both sides, this competition could represent their best chance of silverware. City still have the Champions League to go for, of course, but a league championship looks a long way away after some poor recent results and a blown gasket or two from the increasingly prickly Pep Guardiola.
Just what is Man City’s problem? The goalkeeper? Ageing full-backs? A lack of discipline? Imbalance in midfield? Probably a combination, but they’re certainly not playing like winners. A win this evening should ease the pressure on the coach; defeat, by contrast, could increase it.
However, Guardiola won’t be making wholesale changes for the game at London Stadium, apart from maybe in goal. “I will try to win the game,” he said in the week. “It will be a tough match away from home against a Premier League side, so I will not be rotating. I like the English cup competition. In Spain it is a little bit predictable but the FA Cup is more like the cup competition they have in Germany. It is a proper knockout, with small teams able to beat big teams.”
West Ham will have to do without Cheikhou Kouyate and Andre Ayew, who are away with Senegal and Ghana, but Sofiane Feghouli is available after his red card against Manchester United was rescinded.
Kick off is 7.55pm local time. We’ll have it live.
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Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Barney Ronay on an intriguing signing for Manchester City:
To date Jesus has been in the country for less than a week, much of which seems to have been spent horsing around in his hotel room posting selfies. Meanwhile, in the wider world his manager continues to crunch through the gears. Some have suggested Guardiola’s current prickliness is a response to the way the media reported an animated conversation with Begiristain after the defeat at Liverpool. The main topic was said to be a lack of aggression and drive in the group of players he has inherited. At which point enter, smiling politely, a skinny-legged ... Well, we’ve already done that. Either way, no pressure Gabi old boy. Over to you!
There is, of course, no real comparison to Keirrison. For a start Jesus is far more advanced in his career, an established talent already playing as a central striker for Brazil and an increasingly compelling presence alongside Neymar and Luan in the run to last summer’s Olympic gold medal. And yet for all the stardust it isn’t hard to spot some slightly alarming hurdles in his path at what is a genuinely curious moment in City’s modern history.
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