West Ham 4-0 Doncaster Rovers
by Paul Donovan
at London Stadium

WEST HAM eased into the fifth round of the FA cup following their comfortable win over Doncaster Rovers at the London Stadium at the weekend.

The home side didn’t waste any time asserting their authority, with Pablo Fornals turning in a Ryan Fredericks cross, just two minutes into the game.

Said Benrahma was central to West Ham’s most creative moves, never more so than on the half hour, with an inch perfect through ball to put Andriy Yarmolenko in to finish with ease, chipping just over the advancing goalkeeper.

Rovers keeper Ellery Balcombe was kept busy at the start of the second half, turning a Benrahma free kick round the post and touching over a spectacular volley from Tomas Soucek.

The keeper then denied Soucek again as the big Czech got round the back to meet a Benrahma cross with a strong header.

The keeper though could do nothing to stop the third, as Rovers defender Andy Butler diverted a Mark Noble corner into his own net.

Rovers best effort was a shot from Matthew Smith than cannoned back off the bar after he was found free in the area.

The final goal came after Fredericks shot was parried, only to fall for academy product Oladapo Afolayou to drive home.

West Ham assistant manager Alan Irvine was “delighted” that the players given their chance in this game took it.

A bigger challenge now awaits West Ham, who take on the winner of Manchester v Liverpool tie in the fifth round.