West Ham booked an FA Cup fifth round tie at boss David Moyes’ former club Manchester United with a comfortable 2-0 Derby win.
Jarrod Bowen’s third goal in as many games gave the Hammers a first-half lead and Michail Antonio headed in the second five minutes after half-time.
The Londoners reeled off back-to-back wins after beating Everton 2-0 to exit the Premier League final three nine days and rarely needed top speed as they snapped League One Derby’s 19-match unbeaten run.
West Ham boss Moyes now faces a meeting with former Manchester United at Old Trafford in the round of 16 after being drawn to face the Red Devils in the draw just before Monday’s routine win for the night in Pride Park. The match will take place in the week beginning February 27.
How West Ham beat Derby
Paul Warne’s side are flying high in fourth place in the third tier and there were high hopes of upsetting the home faithful before kick-off in a Pride Park crowd of 25,308.
Derby forward Tom Barkhuizen wasted no time in breaking through the West Ham defence, breaking away in the first minute before his cut was cleared.
Bowen meekly shot past Derby goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith soon after, but did not waste as much in the 10th minute.
Antonio’s ball over the top caught Derby flat-footed and Bowen volleyed a clean headed pass from Tomas Soucek from six yards.
Derby’s best play of the half was James Collins’ volley just off target after Barkhuizen ran onto a Craig Forsyth pass to signal the Derby forward with a fine cross.
Barkhuizen and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing offered the Derby’s best hopes of getting back on level ground before half-time, but had no first-half shots on goal.
The good news for Rams fans at half-time was that their team was still in a draw against a top-division team that wasn’t in its prime.
But five minutes into the second half the home team fell behind 2-0. Derby captain Curtis Davies’ sliced clearance came into Bowen’s path on the right and his cross was headed at the far post by Antonio after deflecting past Forsyth.
Warne sent out four substitutes – Eiran Cashin, Liam Thompson, Lewis Dobbin and Tony Springett – soon after and his fresh legs gave Derby a push.
Haydon Roberts came within an inch of connecting completely on Dobbin’s excellent center, but the Rams soon fell back again.
Bowen was denied in quick succession by Wildsmith’s point-blank save and Cashin’s last-minute tackle before the Derby goalkeeper parried Ben Johnson’s angled shot.
The Rams were full of effort until the final whistle and Dobbin came close to being rewarded with an impressive cameo appearance when he shot straight at Alphonse Areola, but County couldn’t bridge the gap in class that night.
Bowen: You have to beat the best to win the cup
Jarrod Bowen said “to be the best, you have to beat the best” after West Ham faced United in the fifth round.
«I found out (about the draw) on the bench. We have Man Utd a long way away so listen, it’s never easy and if we want to be successful in these competitions we have to beat the best teams,” Bowen said. ITV sport.
“Regarding Man United, they are a top-tier team, but we’ve been there many times before and you have to beat the best to be the best.”
Bowen added: “It was good to score against Everton and tonight as well. I think the situation we’re in, any kind of confidence from any player…
“The last two I’ve been in were very good for me, but I think for us, two wins in a row as well, two good results for us and it’s all about momentum in this game and I think we can use this going forward. «
Warne: We can’t knock out the guys.
Derby manager Paul Warne told ITV Sport: “To be fair West Ham played a professional performance, at times I thought we went toe to toe but unfortunately I don’t think we did enough to score.”
“We can’t beat the guys tonight, we’re asking them to be the best versions of themselves against a Premier League team, so it’s not bad.”
“But we probably didn’t have enough graft in the last third, but I can’t really beat them and we know West Ham won’t have an easy draw next, but I wish them sincere good luck.”
“I thought the guys gave a good account of themselves at times and hit at times.”
Whats Next?
derby returns to League One action on Saturday at home for Morecambe – start 3pm – before traveling to Wycombe on Saturday, February 11; start 3:00 p.m.
West Ham’s the next game is far away Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, live on sky sports; start 17.30 hs.
The Hammers then host London rivals chelsea on Saturday, February 11; start 12:30 p.m.
