Whilst this whole [FA Cup encounter](https://www.claretandhugh.info/burton-0-1-west-ham-united-rated-nunos-eleven-tactics-subs-as-hammers-toil/) was scrappy, against dogged third tier opponents, West Ham came away with the win and can now move on the the fifth round – with the draw taking place tonight on TNT.
Seasoned Hammers watchers will be expecting the ‘usual’ curtailment of a claret and blue cup run by an almost inevitable ‘_away draw at Anfield’_ seeming most likely to end the Wembley dream for another season.
However, questions remain about Nuno’s set up which caused so much ‘huffing and puffing’ against third their opponents at Burton, and in particular his nasty habit of setting up his side in an ultra-defensive manner with his three man back line setting the tone for the Hammers’ own struggles.
The [nytimes.com/athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7046542/2026/02/14/burton-west-ham-fa-cup-protest-potts-summerville/?source=athletic_ukfreedailyemail&campaign=711528&userId=21421445) pinpoints the Hammers’ contrasting fortunes as being largely of Nuno’s own creation, after a lacklustre first half when the three centre backs set up looked ponderous and unwieldy:
_“In the second half, Nuno shifted to a back four when West Ham had possession, pushing Scarles further up the pitch while Mayers shifted wider. That allowed one of Kante and Magassa to drop between Kostas Mavropanos and Max Kilman to invite pressure and the other to receive between the lines._
_They could then quickly feed Traore or Wilson in behind or recycle possession in the attacking third. West Ham’s possession percentage remained in the high 60s throughout the game but their field tilt (share of touches in the final third) improved from 41 per cent in the first half to 51 in the second.”_
With the return of seasoned regulars when the Premier League campaign continues, you’d have to hope that Nuno fights his instincts to set up with three centre backs and revert to the more aggressive 4-4-1-1 set up which has seen West Ham look both resurgent and revitalised.
The danger is without Pablo, (main pic) apparently now out for the season, Nuno will find himself back-tracking to his default.
West Ham surely need to replicate their bold performances with fast flowing attacking football, rather than see Nuno undoing all the hard work by parking the bus. It has never worked for any of his predecessors, and it won’t work for him.