Jarrod Bowen provided a badly needed spark
It was the sort of night designed – as it has been in the past – for the Hammers to lose a game such as the one they faced tonight.
Relentless rain, a pitch which was looking as though it came from another era against a team who were determined to create a shock.
The Hammers looked pedestrian for a very long time but the second half arrival of Jarrod Bowen and Tomas Soucek created just enough of a spark to win a game which was inferior to Horlicks for those who suffer insomnia.
Thankfully – despite being well organised defensively – the home team had very little to offer up front.
And although the Irons created just two or three chances, we finally got the result in the 83rd minute when a Craig Dawson header from Bowen’s ball saw us into the fourth round against Doncaster at the London Stadium.
The conditions of course didn’t help but it was worrying to watch our laboured efforts, the best of which was an early shot from Benrahma which clipped the outside of an upright.
Michail Antonio got 90 minutes without ever looking really match fit although this outing will help a lot,
It was performance which whilst leaving a lot to be desired came after a very busy Christmas and New Year.
And given the state of the pitch which was hardly designed to help tired legs fair play to the team for a professional performance and carving out the result.
That was a tough watch tbh, in very difficult conditions. Fair play to Stockport, they made us work for that result.
It really was one of those nights where you have to have to be happy with a win and getting home again. The pitch and conditions were always going to be a leveller and Stockport ran their socks off and kept a solid defensive shape at all times. We do need some cover up front though – it showed.
Well done team – and well done Dawson. Southport should be proud too. It was pleasing to see Rice play too. Clearest sign he will still be a hammer after this transfer window is up. 3 points this weekend and that makes up for this lock down crap…COYI
I’ve been a viewer of this site for a number of years and this is my first response,.
I’m now wondering if most of the people on here have ever played the game or watched us over the past years.
What the team produced tonight was phenomenal, in those conditions it was amazing, this season is reminding me the fantastic 85’ 86’ season, we don’t look like we ever give up and could win any game. COYI ⚒
That was a game we would have lost last year. Although not pretty, we ground out another result against a very well drilled side. Credit to Stockport for their performance.
I believe in adapting to the conditions. On an agricultural pitch a more agricultural approach might have been more fitting. Passing it back and forth and sideways on this pitch, any of which could have bogged down and left us wide open to the counter, was not the way to go. I really do think in these conditions , we should be getting crosses into the box at every opportunity. We should have been peppering thier keeper with shots. Both keepers were struggling with a greasy ball, why weren’t we shooting at every opportunity? We have players that are seriously dangerous in the air. It seems obvious to me. Am I missing something>
Three clean sheets and a goal for Dawson in his first three games. I call that karma against all those people who took the mickey out of him and said he’d never play for us and that he wasn’t good enough.