Certainly, it had been no FA Cup of cheer and, with last orders and a penalty-shoot-out beckoning, the on-fire substitute’s 95th-minute solo strike finally ended brave Burton Albion’s resistance as West Ham United staggered their way into last 16.
“It’s never easy when you are the away team in the FA Cup because your opponents will be motivated and test you,” insisted the Hammers head coach, who also saw substitute Freddie Potts sent-off before closing time.
“It was a tough afternoon but it showed that every game is important and we always have to remain humble.”
Indeed, the League One strugglers may have kicked-off 47 places below the Hammers in the footballing pyramid but for long periods it was difficult to distinguish which team was the Premier League outfit.
Having come within just seconds of beating in-form Manchester United four days earlier, Nuno made ten changes from the team that had drawn 1-1 with ex-Hammer, Michael Carrick’s resurgent side.
Only skipper Konstantinos Mavropanos retained his shirt, while there was a full-debut for Venezuela international Keiber Lamadrid and first-ever starts for Mohamadou Kanté and Adama Traoré, too.
“None of my players had to prove themselves to me today,” contended Nuno. “It’s just about trying to find the best version of our team and it’s important to have competition.
Nuno Espírito Santo faces the press following West Ham's late victory over the Brewers (Image: Steve Blowers)
"Sometimes you’ll get things right and sometimes you won’t but people like Jarrod Bowen needed to be rested for the fight ahead. I was really pleased with those players who came in.”
While Burton mustered a couple of early shots and two penalty appeals, it took a reshuffled, mixed bag of Hammers 35 minutes conjure up their goal attempt but Callum Wilson’s curling 18-yarder was comfortably saved before Kanté’s wayward, skyward effort from similar range sailed into the neighbouring postcode leaving it goalless at the interval.
On the hour, Mavropanos went close as Nuno’s men forced a string of second-half corners but the arrival of substitutes Summerville, Potts and Taty Castellanos simply came too late to prevent an unwanted, additional half-hour.
Five minutes into extra-time, though, Summerville cut in from the left-flank and let fly with a right-footed, 18-yarder that deflected off Terence Vancooten before looping over ‘keeper Brad Collins to end the sorry stalemate.
“Crysencio is in a good moment,” smiled Nuno after the Dutchman netted his sixth goal in seven matches. “He brings something different to the side and it is a delight to see him so full of confidence.”
But there would not be such a good moment for fellow substitute Potts, whose scissor-tackle on Julian Larsson then had the home fans in the sell-out 6,514 crowd baying for a red-card which referee Lewis Smith subsequently – and somewhat weakly - produced.
“I haven’t seen the images but while Freddie is aggressive, he is not a violent player,” countered Nuno, who saw his ten-men survive a furious, frantic finale to book that place in the fifth-round.
The Hammers now return to Premier League action on Saturday when they face AFC Bournemouth at London Stadium (Kick-off 5.30 pm).