Benrahma strike edges West Ham past Brentford

3 years ago 40

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Said Benrahma's goal helped West Ham into the FA Cup fourth round at the expense of his former side Brentford.

He collected the ball after a perfectly timed Declan Rice tackle and thumped home from 25 yards.

While a fine strike by the Algerian, the ball went over reserve keeper Thomas Strakosha in the middle of the goal who should have done better.

Brentford made seven changes and only had one shot on target, in a game lacking attacking quality.

Moment of quality decides drab game

Large periods of the match were spent with the ball passed around the defence and midfield.

The Brentford Community Stadium pitch was heavy after the Bees played there on Monday and London Irish on Wednesday, with conditions getting worse as the first half progressed because of driving rain.

It led to little quality, with Yoane Wissa's toe-poked effort hitting Lukasz Fabianski on the ankle, before going behind for a corner.

That was the closest Brentford came in the whole game, with their performance disjointed by the changes made.

They were a surprise after Thomas Frank hinted at wanting a cup run, calling their Carabao Cup exit to League Two Gillingham their "biggest disappointment" this season.

West Ham made four changes and fielded a strong side, but they too lacked quality throughout the game.

Tomas Soucek should have scored but flicked an Emerson cross wide from seven yards out in the opening exchanges of the second period.

Benrahma's strike was West Ham's first on target, and was a fine effort, but Strakosha will be disappointed.

The winger decided not to celebrate against his former side, but the goal will have been relief to West Ham and manager David Moyes, who would not have wanted a replay in between crucial Premier League games against fellow strugglers Wolves and Everton.

It continues Moyes' impressive record in the FA Cup third round, with the Scot now having won 10 of his 12 ties at that stage.

Line-ups

Brentford

Formation 3-5-2

22Strakosha
20AjerSubstituted forHenryat 80'minutes
29Bech Sørensen
16MeeSubstituted forTrevittat 90'minutes
30Roerslev
10DasilvaSubstituted forJaneltat 69'minutes
8Jensen
24DamsgaardSubstituted forCanósat 80'minutes
14Ghoddos
23Lewis-PotterSubstituted forSchadeat 69'minutes
11WissaBooked at 64mins

Substitutes

3Henry
7Canós
9Schade
13M Jorgensen
27Janelt
33Stevens
34Cox
35Trevitt
36Yarmolyuk

West Ham

Formation 3-5-2

1Fabianski
15DawsonBooked at 73mins
21Ogbonna
27Aguerd
2Johnson
11Lucas PaquetáSubstituted forDownesat 86'minutes
41Rice
28SoucekSubstituted forBenrahmaat 69'minutes
33Emerson
20Bowen
9AntonioSubstituted forFornalsat 86'minutes

Substitutes

3Cresswell
8Fornals
12Downes
22Benrahma
24Kehrer
32Coventry
35Randolph
58Simon-Swyer
72Mubama

Referee:Andre Marriner

Attendance:16,725

Live Text

Match ends, Brentford 0, West Ham United 1.
Second Half ends, Brentford 0, West Ham United 1.
Attempt missed. Yoane Wissa (Brentford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Saman Ghoddos.
Substitution, Brentford. Ryan Trevitt replaces Ben Mee.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Nayef Aguerd.
Attempt blocked. Kevin Schade (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sergi Canós.
Substitution, West Ham United. Flynn Downes replaces Lucas Paquetá.
Substitution, West Ham United. Pablo Fornals replaces Michail Antonio.
Attempt missed. Vitaly Janelt (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Mads Roerslev.
Attempt missed. Saïd Benrahma (West Ham United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high following a corner.
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Ben Mee.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Angelo Ogbonna.
Substitution, Brentford. Rico Henry replaces Kristoffer Ajer.
Substitution, Brentford. Sergi Canós replaces Mikkel Damsgaard.
Goal! Brentford 0, West Ham United 1. Saïd Benrahma (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Declan Rice.
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Mads Roerslev.
Attempt blocked. Declan Rice (West Ham United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Saïd Benrahma.
Craig Dawson (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Kevin Schade (Brentford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Craig Dawson (West Ham United).