FIRST and foremost, the let-down when the team announced was huge. [No Summerville,](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-star-summerville-handed-huge-boost-after-injury-blow/) No Mavropanos, No Todibo – No Wilson and a wafer – thin bench including **six** u21 players. If West Ham were to triumph this afternoon, somebody was going to make a huge name for themselves.
Whether enforced or merely through caution, Nuno had left his biggest match winner out along with his best defender and a proven goal scorer.
These selection questions for the Hammers’ head coach would have to wait.
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**Potts, Magassa and Fernandes** failed spectacularly to gel – that trio was deemed to be the ‘midfield of the future’ at one stage in the season: Now only Fernandes looked worthy of his place as Potts and Magassa sprayed passes everywhere – apart from to a team mate. The instant improvement in the second half with Soucek’s more combative manner alongside Fernandes showed how poor the youngsters had been in the first ’45.
MOM Adama Traore was electric
**Adama Traore** looks better every time he pulls on the West Ham shirt: Still lacks finesse with his final pass but he set Bowen up beautifully in the first half and looked full of running, motivated and angry when his team mates didn’t match his commitment. Suddenly West Ham have a decent Summerville stand in. Who knew. The ball in for Disasi’s equaliser – top quality and if you watch the highlights look for his mazy run at 105 minutes: Every bit as good as a Summerville special and a West Ham MOM candidate.
**The breathtaking resurgence** in the last ten minutes came first from a Bowen shot hitting the post, followed in by Fernandes: And Axel Disasi of all people popping up to jab home Traore’s cross after tens of thousands of Hammers fans had left early: 93rd and 96 minutes respectively. Now there was hope instead of deflation.
**VAR cut short Castellanos’** celebrations after a stunning third. Judge for yourself later but once the goalkeeper tried and failed to head the ball clear that should surely have been deemed a new phase of play. And then another ruled out as Pablo followed up Bowen’s woodwork-bound 25 yarder: It was excruciating to twice be denied the winner.
**Drama for debutant** Fin Herrick – on the bench inexplicably instead of Hermansen – as Areola went down with cramp. 5 minutes and possible penalties in an FA Cup quarter final. Incredible tension.
Penalties again. **Fin Herrick.** What a moment. No disgrace losing a shootout, the young guy saved the first kick he faced. Disappointment as Leeds go to Wembley.