West Ham 2-0 Birmingham City in FA Cup third round

By Alistair MagowanBBC Sport

Last updated on 5 January 2019.From the section FA Cup142

Andy Carroll scored his first goal since April as West Ham earned a place in the FA Cup fourth round with a win over Birmingham.

The Hammers striker, who made his first start in a year on Wednesday, came on as a 19th-minute substitute for injured goalscorer Marko Arnautovic.

But his injury-time header sealed the win after an open game where Birmingham wasted several chances to level.

Arnautovic headed in after two minutes before he was replaced.

FA Cup video highlights

The Austrian striker, who is now West Ham's joint top scorer with nine goals, appeared to share a disagreement with boss Manuel Pellegrini when he left the field, and did not seem too distressed by the injury.

Pellegrini later said he wanted to avoid "a risk" after the 29-year-old had complained of a "pain in his back".

But the Chilean manager will be buoyed by Carroll's return to scoring form, following an ankle injury, despite him appearing to lack sharpness, including a late miss before his goal.

There was also a positive return to action for debutant Samir Nasri, who took control early on before he was replaced by Robert Snodgrass in the 58th minute.

Andy Carroll scored from a trademark header after missing most of the season through injury

Carroll makes it count in the end

Birmingham, who are eighth in the Championship and four points off the play-off positions, will rue several chances to get themselves back into the game.

Blues striker Lukas Jutkiewicz was guilty of a hat-trick of misses, while full-back Wes Harding's touch let him down when he was clean through on goal from an angle.

Both Pellegrini and Birmingham boss Garry Monk named strong line-ups which contributed to a robust and open encounter where Carroll was involved in several physical exchanges with the Birmingham defence.

The hosts' superior squad depth counted as Snodgrass' extra energy appeared to turn the game in West Ham's favour in a second half where Birmingham looked like they would score.

Felipe Anderson was also introduced to give added threat and there were positive contributions from midfielders Grady Diangana and Michail Antonio.

But the last hurrah was left to Carroll, who had already shown his worth by clearing one Jutkiewicz effort off his own goalline.

The 29-year-old would have also been pleased to make up for a bad miss as injury-time approached when he miscontrolled an attempt to take the ball around goalkeeper Lee Camp.

Earlier he also hit the bar, so when the goal came via a trademark header from Antonio's cross, Carroll celebrated with relief following an ankle injury that had kept him out until the start of December.

Marko Arnautovic scored from close range after Angelo Ogbonna's header was saved

Pellegrini 'thinks' Carroll and Arnautovic will stay - reaction

West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini: "Andy has had a good career behind him. When he's playing there is always something happening around him. He's coming from a long injury and I think in the second part of season he will contribute to the team."

On the disagreement with Marko Arnautovic: "He felt a pain in his back at the beginning. He wanted to continue after that, but it was not good to take a risk. He played 90 minutes on Wednesday, the previous game 65 minutes, so it was important for him to be replaced."

On whether Arnautovic and Carroll would be at West Ham at the end of the transfer window: "I don't know what will happen but I think both players will stay here."

Birmingham manager Garry Monk: "That was our fifth game in 14 days, but we competed so well today. It was difficult circumstances, but we had our chances, we just didn't have that cutting edge that we needed and you have to take your chances when you come to places like this.

"Credit to West Ham, they are a quality team but we wanted to show we can compete against a team a league above us and we did. So we are very proud of our players."

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

West Ham

Formation 4-1-4-1

13Adrián
30Antonio
23DiopBooked at 51mins
21Ogbonna
26Masuaku
41Rice
45Diangana
14Obiang
18NasriSubstituted forSnodgrassat 58'minutes
32Costa SilvaSubstituted forFelipe Andersonat 79'minutes
7ArnautovicSubstituted forCarrollat 20'minutes

Substitutes

1Fabianski
3Cresswell
8Felipe Anderson
9Carroll
11Snodgrass
27Pérez
54Coventry

Birmingham

Formation 4-4-2

1Camp
45Harding
28Morrison
12Dean
5Colin
7MahoneySubstituted forSolomon-Otaborat 73'minutes
20GardnerBooked at 19minsSubstituted forGardnerat 45'minutes
6Kieftenbeld
19Maghoma
10Jutkiewicz
9Adams

Substitutes

8Gardner
22Solomon-Otabor
24Scarr
25Dacres-Cogley
27Trueman
30Lubala
31Lakin

Referee:: Roger East
Attendance:: 54,840

Match Stats

Home TeamWest HamAway TeamBirmingham

Possession: Home73%; Away27%

Shots: Home11; Away13

Shots on Target: Home5; Away4

Corners: Home6; Away10

Fouls: Home8; Away11

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, West Ham United 2, Birmingham City 0.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, West Ham United 2, Birmingham City 0.

90'+3'
Post update
Attempt missed. Harlee Dean (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Craig Gardner with a cross following a set piece situation.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Pedro Obiang (West Ham United).
90'+2'
Post update
Viv Solomon-Otabor (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90'+1'
Goal!
Goal! West Ham United 2, Birmingham City 0. Andy Carroll (West Ham United) header from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Michail Antonio.
90'
Post update
Felipe Anderson (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'
Post update
Foul by Viv Solomon-Otabor (Birmingham City).
88'
Post update
Attempt saved. Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Maxime Colin.
86'
Post update
Foul by Pedro Obiang (West Ham United).
86'
Post update
Craig Gardner (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
85'
Post update
Delay in match Adrián (West Ham United) because of an injury.
85'
Post update
Arthur Masuaku (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
85'
Post update
Foul by Wes Harding (Birmingham City).
83'
Post update
Andy Carroll (West Ham United) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Robert Snodgrass.
81'
Post update
Attempt saved. Harlee Dean (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Craig Gardner with a cross.
81'
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Issa Diop.
81'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Harlee Dean (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Craig Gardner with a cross.
80'
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Issa Diop.

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142 comments

Comment posted by golightly, at 14:38 5 Jan 2019
I knew West ham were going to win as soon as I see Mark Lawrence prediction. won some money on it as well.
Cheers Lawro!
Comment posted by Happyhammer, at 14:51 5 Jan 2019
Another great win for West Ham against a good Birmingham City team. How can Lawrenson possibly predict a loss for us? More so, why do the BBC retain him as one of their so called ‘experts’.

Get rid of Lawrenson, he is so biased against West Ham it’s a disgrace that the BBC allow him to continue with his pathetic score predictions each week.

COME ON YOU IRONS !
Comment posted by BREXIT IS HELL, at 14:40 5 Jan 2019
Good result, up yours Law the Bore ⚒
Comment posted by Broadsword, at 15:19 5 Jan 2019
@11

Absolutely – Best Christmas jokes this year 'Lawro's Predictions' – he should do stand-up – he'd get a laugh regardless when he walked on with that mullet haircut!

The beeb need to have a word with him re WH predictions – he has a history with us re these – there's no respect shown – basically its – whoever 2 West Ham 0

He obviously needs therapy!

COYI
Comment posted by anyoldiron, at 14:38 5 Jan 2019
Good win. Thankful that it seems Arnie isn’t too bad. Move on to round 4.
Comment posted by Naz MCFC, at 14:54 5 Jan 2019
Great crowd. Do West Ham season-ticket holders have to buy their seats, like at Old Trafford, or is it voluntary?

Hoping we get 50,000 plus tomorrow at Manchester City. Cheap tickets (£20) so should be a good crowd.

Pellegrini doing a good job
Comment posted by Gebby , at 14:47 5 Jan 2019
Good result not a great performance ...
but good to bloody a couple of youngsters and a fantastic crowd 55,000 ⚒
Just waiting for Simple Ted’s response 🙈
Comment posted by DJHammer, at 15:45 5 Jan 2019
West Ham may have dominated the ball possession, but Blues were very spirited and made there chances too. Pleased to see my club progress onto the next round though. Must mention Blues fans, magnificent support, loud and proud of their city.
Comment posted by Navers, at 18:16 5 Jan 2019
5th game in 14 days. It was just not meant to be, but I am proud of how we performed. Still fought to the end. The result shows the difference in quality between the two teams. Had this been last season's group, we would have given West Ham the win on a plate. Proud of the Blues. All the best to West Ham on the cup run.
Comment posted by essexirons, at 16:53 5 Jan 2019
Brexit is Hell.... give it a rest mate. This is a football hys not a political soap box for you to keep bashing. Not all are racist who want out.
Comment posted by ArthurMo, at 14:41 5 Jan 2019
Pleased with the win against a good Birmingham side. Also pleased with the approach of the manager to the FA cup. Hope the injury is slight for A.
Comment posted by User0707190502, at 14:53 5 Jan 2019
I am delighted for Carroll who, when he is fully fit and in form, is a proper handful.
Comment posted by Raedwulf, at 14:45 5 Jan 2019
Well done Brum. Fantastic performance, but! The gap in quality was there to see. I hope you reach the play offs but fail, because I think you'd get hurt coming up this year. Get promoted by right next year & I reckon you'll do well.

As for WH, great game from Rice again, but Diangana? Every time I see him, what a talent he looks! And he's English!! MotM today, for me.
Comment posted by Adam, at 18:45 5 Jan 2019
Blues fan here.we lost but went down fighting to a good West Ham side.got no problem with WHU apart from GSB especially the poison dwarf.when they sold up to Carson Yeung they promised supporters the club would be left in safe hands, say no more on that subject.totally understand the West Ham fan's grievances against them.putting them aside good luck in the cup and for the rest of the season.
Comment posted by anyoldiron, at 17:04 5 Jan 2019
@50

I’m a remainer but you’re boring the hell out of me. Do me a favour and take the politics elsewhere.

COYI good effort again. Onwards and upwards.
Comment posted by D1680820000252, at 16:17 5 Jan 2019
@ 43

Yet you're happy to keep bringing up brexit and lump everyone who voted for it as a racist? Just give it a rest and talk about the football, more specifically west ham v birmingham and keep your bigoted views to yourself.
Comment posted by dorsetblue, at 16:03 5 Jan 2019
Unlucky blues. Huffed and puffed but not enough against a West Ham team getting better each week. Time to concentrate on our league position before we get a points deduction on Feb.
Good luck to West Ham. Proper working mans club like Birmingham.
Comment posted by Mother Superior, at 14:41 5 Jan 2019
Up the Hammers!
Comment posted by Andy H, at 14:44 5 Jan 2019
Will Super Mario ever finish 90 minutes? Hopefully he isn't eyeing a move away. Good to get past a decent Brummie 11 today and in the hat for round 4. COYI
Comment posted by jimbob69, at 16:59 5 Jan 2019
Once again spuds on here trying to be funny. Think they may be a tad obsessed with us.
It was all about getting through to the next round today so job done. Good luck Birmingham hope you come up. Great vocal backing today and class supporters