Covid-hit Hammers slam five past Hull

By Hugh Southon

Hammers 5 Hull City 1

The Irons cruised past Hull City with goals from Robert Snodgrass, a brace from Seb Haller and a spot kick and late strike from Andriy Yarmolenko on a night when Covid 19 hit the manager David Moyes, Issa Diop and Josh Cullen.

Defender Diop and midfielder Cullen were withdrawn from the team, with Harrison Ashby and Jack Wilshere drafted in and David Martin promoted to the substitutes’ bench.

The club have confirmed that there have been three positive tests, with Alan Irvine taking over Moyes’ role and managing the side .

But the Hammers made light of their pre-match problems with a top performance against the Tigers who dragged a goal back in the second half from Wilkes.

It means the Irons will clash with either Fleetwood Town or Everton in the next round as they bid to enjoy a decent Cup run as they go into the fourth round.

On the night we were by far the better team with Lanzini and Anderson in particular pressing their claims for the weekend should the game against Wolves go ahead given the Covid problems.

It was a very similar outing to the one against Charlton with the opposition offering very little threat apart from the consolation goal.

Young Ashby in particular looked a very bright prospect as he had done when coming on for the last 10 minutes against Charlton but was injured in the second period after making an impressive debut.

Ben Johnson enjoyed a decent evening at right back and the defence was rarely troubled although Wilshere looked more than a bit rusty in midfield where Snodgrass and Yarmolenko were particularly bright.

So onto the fourth round withy  the Hammers beginning to look a decent outfit despite this being only League 1 opposition.

David Moyes – on his first night of self isolation – could hardly have had a bigger boost as he no doubt watched from home.