Bristol City Stuns West Ham in FA Cup Upset

By sahiba
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Updated: January 17, 2024
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In a stunning turn of events at Ashton Gate on Tuesday, second-tier Bristol City pulled off a major upset by defeating Premier League side West Ham United in a tempestuous FA Cup replay. The hero of the night was youngster Tommy Conway, who secured Bristol City’s place in the fourth round with an early goal. Conway capitalized on a poor back pass in the third minute, seizing the opportunity to give the hosts a crucial lead. This victory was well-deserved for Bristol City, and it came at the cost of West Ham finishing the match with 10 men after Saïd Benrahma received a red card early in the second half.

Conway’s impact was not limited to the replay, as he had also scored in the initial tie, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Bristol City’s reward for this impressive victory is a home tie in the next round against either Premier League side Nottingham Forest or third-tier Blackpool, who are scheduled to play their third-round replay on Wednesday.

In another notable result, fourth-tier Newport County secured a dream home tie against 12-time FA Cup winners Manchester United. Newport County defeated non-league side Eastleigh 3-1, with goals from Aaron Wildig, James Clarke, and Will Evans. This victory not only advances Newport County to the next round but also brings a windfall of approximately £400,000 ($505,240) for the Welsh club. Newport County had previously reached the fifth round in 2019.

Wolverhampton Wanderers also advanced to the next round after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Brentford in extra time, setting up a West Midlands derby against second-tier West Bromwich Albion. The match showcased the competitive nature of the FA Cup, with Matheus Cunha playing a crucial role in Wolves’ success.

In an all-Championship clash, Birmingham City secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Hull City, thanks to Koji Miyoshi’s stoppage-time goal. This late strike earned Birmingham City a place in the fourth round and a tie against Leicester City.

The original third-round ties were relatively uneventful, lacking the drama traditionally associated with the FA Cup. However, the clash between Bristol City and West Ham provided the excitement that fans crave. The full house at Ashton Gate witnessed a fierce battle between the second-tier team, currently 14th in their division, and West Ham, who are currently sixth in the Premier League.

Despite fielding a strong side, West Ham manager David Moyes expressed his disappointment at the team’s performance and the first third-round exit since 2017. Moyes admitted, “Disappointed. Lots of things didn’t go for us tonight, but overall disappointed.” The match had a frantic start, with West Ham coming close to scoring before Conway’s early goal changed the complexion of the game.

West Ham’s Maxwel Cornet missed a crucial opportunity to equalize, volleying wide from close range, and Danny Ings, given a rare start, failed to capitalize on another scoring chance. The turning point came in the 51st minute when Benrahma received a red card after a strong sliding tackle by Joe Williams and retaliated with a kick.

Bristol City, however, escaped a potential red card when midfielder Taylor Gardner-Hickman appeared to swing a punch towards West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell. The closest West Ham came to equalizing was a close-range volley by Tomás Soucek, brilliantly saved by Bristol City’s goalkeeper Max O’Leary.

In summary, Bristol City’s triumph over West Ham added an unexpected twist to the FA Cup third-round replays, showcasing the competition’s unpredictable and captivating nature. The upcoming fourth-round ties promise more excitement as teams vie for a coveted spot in the later stages of the prestigious tournament.

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By- Sahiba Suri