Lincoln City 0 Hammers 1

Hammers into the Carabao Cup fourth round

By Hughie Southon

Tomas Soucek grabbed the goal which puts the Irons into the fourth round draw later this evening.

The defensive midfielder turned home a Benrahma corner in the 70th minute but my goodness the Hammers had made hard work of things until then.

They had been outbattled in the first half but showed more urgency after the break and Soucek’s strike probably gave them a deserved victoy.

Late Ben Johnson had hit the post and Edson Alvarez saw a shot  deflected over the top as the Irons took control.

City put the Hammers right under the cosh during the first 45 minutes creating the better chances and looking the livelier side throughout.

Soucek’s a winner

The Hammers offered little offensively apart from one early thrust which drew a superb double save from the Imps keeper from Danny Ings.

But the League One side hit back quickly when Hamilton saw a shot collected by Fabianski – their first effort on goal of the game.

The Hammers were entirely sloppy with their final ball which invariably flew wide or went over the top encouraging City to give things a real go.

And from a long throw in Mitchell tapped home at the far post but thankfully the effort was ruled marginally offside minutes before Hamilton saw another effort fly over the top.

The Hammers had another decent chance when a deflected shot from Cornet went for a corner and Danny Ings fired wide from eight yards in a one in one with the Imps keeper.

Kudus enjoyed a decent game and Benrahma was always lively and in the end David Moyes will feel happy and relieved in equal parts.