West Ham dumped out FA Cup, Newport set up Man United tie

LONDON – West Ham United manager David Moyes has said that he wants new signings in the January transfer window after Said Benrahma’s sending-off at Bristol City added to his attacking crisis.

The Hammers were dumped out of the FA Cup third round on Jan 16 by Championship side Bristol after losing 1-0, as Newport County set up a dream fourth-round tie against Manchester United.

Asked if the club will be targeting any reinforcements following the defeat, Moyes said: “I would probably say yes.

“The truth is we’ll try and do some business. Undoubtedly, there’s a desire from the club to try and do something.

“The next part is, can we get the right players to come in and ones we think could help?”

Moyes’ men missed the threat of the injured Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta, as well as Mohammed Kudus, who is away representing Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The visitors also had to play almost the entire second half a man down after Benrahma was sent off for kicking out at Joe Williams in retaliation to a late challenge on him.

Tommy Conway scored the only goal at Ashton Gate after less than three minutes to ensure the Hammers’ 44-year wait to lift the FA Cup will go on.

Conway, who also scored to secure this replay when the sides met at the London Stadium, pounced on a short back pass from Konstantinos Mavropanos to round Lukasz Fabianski and slot into an unguarded net.

“I’ve been coming here since I was seven and to get the winner is unbelievable,” the 21-year-old said.

“It’s the best (crowd) I’ve seen in a while and to send them home happy is unbelievable.”

Tomas Soucek then came closest to taking the game to extra time when the Czech’s volley forced Max O’Leary into a flying save, but in the end it was all that West Ham could manage.

Moyes had no complaints over Benrahma’s dismissal, but Bristol had two players who were fortunate to escape red cards in separate incidents, and there was no video assistant referee (VAR) in place at non-Premier League grounds in the FA Cup.

“It’s incredible that they call it the best cup competition in the world, but yet we have one week when we have VAR and the next we don’t,” the West Ham boss said. “I find it quite ridiculous.”

Bristol City will next face Blackpool or Nottingham Forest in the fourth round.

League Two side Newport, meanwhile, ended the run of non-league Eastleigh with a 3-1 win to earn the right to host the Red Devils at Rodney Parade on Jan 28.

In another match, Brentford boss Thomas Frank got exactly what he did not want as his side were forced to extra time before losing 3-2 to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Twice the Bees went in front through former Wolves defender Nathan Collins and Neal Maupay.

But Nelson Semedo and teenager Nathan Fraser hit back for the home side and Matheus Cunha’s penalty won the game in the extra period.

Wolves will now face local rivals West Bromwich Albion in the last 32. AFP