West Ham showed their Premier League quality against League One side as they ran out 5-1 winners to progress in the League Cup.
West Ham Team News
David Moyes pre-match preparations seemed to be in tatters as himself, Josh Cullen and Issa Diop both pulled out of the match after returning positive tests for COVID-19. These late withdrawals meant Jack Wilshere and Harrison Ashby came into the West Ham starting line-up.
The Hammers deployed a powerful attack against League One Hull City. Andriy Yarmolenko, Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson were all selected to play, therefore making the value of West Ham’s attack almost £100 million.
Match Report
Felipe Anderson looked in the mood early on and fancied adding to his one goal in the League Cup from last week against Charlton. The Brazilian went close from range on two occasions as he looked to give West Ham the perfect start.
Surprise starter Ashby almost gave the Hammers the lead, in what would have been a great moment for the 18-year-old. A long ball from captain Fabian Balbuena reached Ashby charging through. The defender cut past his man and fired a dangerous shot at goal, only for a great save to deny him his first professional goal.
The goal did not take long to arrive. West Ham had spent the first fifteen minutes of the game as the better side and got their rewards. Manuel Lanzini picked up a loose ball and passed to Yarmolenko. The Ukrainian’s cross fell for Robert Snodgrass who volleyed home.
West Ham continued to press after the goal in search for a second. After some good passing through the Hull midfield, Yarmolenko had a shot blocked by the defence. Anderson was also causing the Hammer’s opposition all sorts of problems down the wing with his skill and pace.
The Hammers went close again, and it was Anderson causing the problems again. The winger burst down the wing and passed a neat through ball into the box to Lanzini. The argentine was unable to control the ball at first, but once it was under control, he fired his shot just wide of the top-right corner.
The second goal did come eventually! Lanzini tried to play in Yarmolenko, but a Hull defender cut the ball out. Yarmolenko was still able to pick up the ball from a loose touch. The 30-year-old charged towards goal and as he looked like he was about to shoot, squared the ball to Haller. The Frenchman made no mistake with the finish and side-footed into the goal just before half-time.
West Ham came out firing in the second half and almost added to their goal tally. After some brilliant build-up play from Yarmolenko and Lanzini, the ball fell to Haller. The striker’s shot cannoned off a Hull defender and bounced away for a corner, which came to nothing.
The next corner did render a positive result. Laznini’s whipped cross was supposed to be met by Haller, but the Frenchman had been impeded, and a penalty was awarded. Yarmolenko stepped up and sent the Hull keeper, George Long, the wrong way.
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Lanzini almost added a fourth on the hour-mark. The argentine had been targeted with some tough tackles but almost had the final laugh. Anderson chipped a beautiful dink into the box for Lanzini who could not entirely control it; the ball ran for Ben Johnson. The return ball from Johnson reached Lanzini who almost squeezed the ball in via an improvised finish.
On the 65th minute, the impressive Harrison Ashby was the victim of another hard Hull City challenge. The 18-year-old was down and require a lot of treatment, including being given oxygen. Fellow academy graduate Emmanuel Longelo was sent on to replace him.
Hull took advantage of the disruption in the Hammers defence. Long played a long ball forward which was met by Mallik Wilks via a header from Josh Magennis. The forward drifted past Longelo and slotted his shot between the legs of Darren Randolph, to give the Tigers some hope.
The goal seemed to put a spring in the step of the Hull City players, who started to press West Ham with a bit more vigour as they tried to get themselves back into the game. But it was the Hammers that went closest to scoring the fifth goal. Snodgrass fired a low drive from 25-yards, which forced a good save from Long.
Going into the last ten minutes, the Hammers had re-settled themselves after Hull’s small rally. Alan Irvine, who was in charge in Moyes’ absence, saw his side continuously break forward but were lacking the final finish to put the game to bed. Yarmolenko, Haller and Snodgrassall saw efforts miss the goal by some distance.
The Hammers finishing finally improved as Haller scored his second of the night and the teams fourth. Lanzini dribbled past two Hull players before slipping in the French striker. Haller then calmly rounded the keeper and slotted home to wrap the tie-up.
The night got even better for the Hammers as Yarmolenko fired in his second of the game. Anderson progressed down the left-wing again and cut-back a perfect pass for the Ukrainian. Yarmolenko then cooly whipped his shot into the right side of the goal.
West Ham emphatically won the game after a late flurry. The Hammers will play either Fleetwood Town or Everton in the next round of the League Cup, depending on who wins their tie.