Was West Ham United’s 2-1 triumph over Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup third round a potential turning point? Or merely a false dawn destined to be replaced by another miserable downpour?
Only time will tell.
And with bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur to come next weekend, any new-found positivity build up thanks to a dramatic cup victory over another London neighbour would be scrubbed away pretty speedily.
Yet, considering that West Ham United had won only three games all season and none since November against Burnley, you could forgive the London Stadium faithful for breathing it all in and savouring that winning feeling once again.
FA Cup progress after extra-time 😎 Give us your INSTANT reaction…
Great header from Taty! 😍
Jarrod Bowen paid a grateful tribute to Taty Castellanos following the final whistle – one step further to realising those Carlos Tevez comparisons with the Argentine international thumping home a winner eight minutes into extra time – but this also felt like a belated ‘welcome to the party’ moment for Crysencio Summerville.
A fine left-footed drive to put the Hammers ahead – the highly-influential Castellanos played a key role in Summerville’s first strike in 25 matches, by the way – and a sublime run and cross for his new teammate’s late winner.
Though a word as well for Tomas Soucek and Pablo Felipe too.
Nuno Espirito Santo hailed after Tomas Soucek and Pablo help West Ham United see off QPR
Soucek brought typical aggression and physicality when he replaced Soungoutou Magassa on 70 minutes. Nuno sprung a surprise and a tactical reshuffle, meanwhile, when opting to introduce striker Pablo for the injured centre-half Konstantinos Mavropanos before the break.
Pablo, as against Nottingham Forest, still looked a little sluggish. A little clumsy and laboured, at times, on his second appearance in a new county and on the back of a knock he suffered during his final few days with Gil Vicente.
But, still, it was he who provided the ‘assist for the assist’ in Summerville’s opener.
“I was watching Nuno the whole time, throughout the whole game. Nuno never really looked comfortable,” former West Ham left-back Scott Minto said during TNT Sport’s live coverage. “[The full-time whistle was] the first time we have seen him smile.
“The goal before half-time was a really important moment.
“Fair play to QPR, they came back into it, and on 90 minutes we had no idea which way this game was going to go. But West Ham handled that extra time period really, really well. They played on the front foot and were more solid defensively as well.
“Fair play to Nuno, he used the bench really well. Not many attacking players on the bench but Pablo and Soucek… I thought all his substitutes were superb.”
Who was West Ham’s MOTM against QPR and why?! 👀
Scott Minto lauds Crysencio Summerville as FA Cup 4th round looms
Nuno’s game-management has been a source of real frustration since he replaced Graham Potter. Perhaps it was the standard of the opposition – QPR are a mid-table Championship outfit, after all – but the Portuguese pragmatist showed rare positivity and attacking intent when bringing Pablo into the fray.
Soucek’s introduction also helped wrestle back control in the moments after Richard Kone equalised on 65 minutes.
“[QPR] really went at West Ham aggressively without the ball. They tried to press them,” adds Minto. “Until that final moment of the first half, the tactics were right. The moment they really put West Ham under pressure in the second half, West Ham struggled.
“Honestly, I think [West Ham still] needed a better performance. But the bottom line is, the bigger picture is, they got the win. The headline is not ‘West Ham got knocked out by a Championship side,’ so crisis averted until the next time.
“It’s Spurs up next. Nuno is under pressure. Thomas Frank is under pressure. But this was a big, big win for West Ham.”
After seeing a confidence-boosting goal ruled out by VAR against Nottingham Forest four days ago, Summerville would not be denied this time.
“I just think out of everyone on the pitch [he was the standout],” says ex-Chelsea, Charlton and Benfica defender Minto. “He was working hard, tracking back, even in the 120th minute, he looked so sharp.
“He will be needed big time if Nuno is able to get West Ham out of the pickle they are in. That is the type of performance was brought to the club for and he needs to find that consistency now.
“[QPR boss] Julian Stephan can be very proud of his team, but the West Ham fans are the ones who will go home happy.”
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