West Ham Beat Derby To Set Up Man Utd FA Cup Tie
West Ham manager David Moyes said there “is a chance” he will be active on deadline day after watching his side beat Derby to set up an FA Cup fifth-round tie at Manchester United.
Moyes ideally would not bring anyone else in because “we spent all our money in the summer” and brought in striker Danny Ings earlier this month. But with Ings and central defender Kurt Zouma injured for indefinite spells, Moyes may have to act. “If both were fit, we wouldn’t need anyone but we are a little bit short,” he said after the 2-0 win at Pride Park.
“It is a difficult decision, whether to try and do something quickly. I’m not completely ruling it out. There is a chance.” Ings’ injury is one of the reasons why Moyes is reluctant to let Michail Antonio leave the club, even though the 32-year-old admitted to BBC Sport last week that it might happen.
Antonio played a role in Jarrod Bowen’s opener before ending his six-match scoring drought with a headed finish at the start of the second half. “I would say there is no chance,” Moyes said of the prospect of Antonio leaving. “Money talks in football but there is no price we are interested in taking for Mich.”
The result marked the first time Moyes’ side had earned successive victories since October, following on from last weekend’s crucial Premier League success against Everton. And it now pits Moyes against his former club in a cup competition at Old Trafford for the third successive season, the Hammers winning in the Carabao Cup last term after losing in the last 16 of the FA Cup the year before.
Defeat for League One Derby ended a 14-match unbeaten run, although manager Paul Warne knows the main challenge for his side this season is to try and return to the Championship.It was a good night for Antonio as he finally ended his scoring drought.
Although his current run of nine goals in 43 appearances across the end of last season and the first half of this is not enough in terms of general output, Antonio continues making the selfless runs down the channel which, if the Hammers are functioning properly, opens the space for others.
That it has not happened this season is as much the fault of those supporting Antonio as the forward himself. Given his Nottingham Forest connection had been mentioned by the Derby fans early in the contest when he screwed a shot wide, there was an additional personal benefit to Antonio scoring his 67th West Ham goal.
Twelve months ago to the day, thousands of Derby fans marched to Pride Park from the city centre in a show of solidarity amid genuine fears the club was going to go bust. Local businessman David Clowes eventually saved it.
Clowes is the very opposite of an ego-driven owner, happy to remain in the background, even to the extent of watching the club’s youth and women’s team without telling anyone he is going to be there. Warne reflected on those dark times in his programme notes.
Although Wayne Rooney was manager then, the former Rotherham chief told the supporters to enjoy evenings like these and think of what might have been.
A trip to Old Trafford for the winner provided an added incentive but, in truth, Derby lacked the cutting edge required to really push their Premier League opponents.
James Collins volleyed a first-time effort wide in the opening period, Jason Knight was also off target from the edge of the area in the second and Lewis Dobbin’s angled drive near the end was comfortably dealt with by Alphonse Areola.
