By Hughie Southon
Saïd Benrahma is looking for a personal Derby County encore should he be selected for the FA Cup tie against the Rams tomorrow evening at Pride Park.
The Hammers are looking for a fifth round place in the hat and Benny is a man in form this season but his mind goes back two and a half years when he was in cracking form against the League One side.
He grabbed a couple against them- and the the second was not just ‘very good’ but one of the goals of the 2019/20 EFL Championship season.
Benrahma darted inside and, as he has against Crystal Palace and Brentford for West Ham this season, found the back of the net from distance.
The top corner bulged, Rams goalkeeper Ben Hamer was well beaten, and a brace from Benrahma secured his former club Brentford a well-deserved league double.
“I do remember that game,” he adds. “I remember the two goals very well in fact. It was during COVID [in July 2020]. I have happy memories of that game, and hopefully, it will be more of the same on Monday.”
Benrahma’s record against Derby, a side currently unbeaten in 14 games and on a six-match winning streak, is one he will hope to maintain.
In his four previous meetings, he has registered three goals and two assists. And after scoring the winner in the previous round against Brentford, confidence is high as the No22 heads to Pride Park once more.
“Ultimately with the cup games, there is the possibility of winning a title, so we need to be on it,” the Algerian states.
“We need to give 100%, whether it is the cup or the league we have to continue to work hard, and I am sure the victory will come.
“When we play cup matches, we feel even more pressure because of what is at stake, but our recent performances in cup games have given us a lot of confidence too.
“When we have won games in the cup, it has helped us with our performances in the league too. I want us to continue that against Derby, of course!”
