Bristol City’s resilient fightback secures FA Cup replay against Premier League side West Ham United after a thrilling 1-1 draw at the London Stadium on Sunday.
An early strike by Jarrod Bowen put West Ham in the lead, but the Championship outfit battled back superbly, with Tommy Conway’s equalizer leveling the score in the second half.
Liam Manning, returning to face his former club for the first time since taking up management, will be looking to build on this impressive performance.
The Robins, aiming to break a longstanding winless streak against West Ham since 1978, have the opportunity to rewrite history at Ashton Gate later this month.
The eventful match saw a swift start for West Ham, with Bowen’s quick goal setting the pace. Despite Bristol City’s resilient attempts, Max O’Leary made crucial saves to keep his side in contention.
City showed determination in their attacks but struggled with the final pass, while West Ham’s Premier League quality was evident in their controlled play. O’Leary’s excellent saves prevented West Ham from extending their lead early on.
The match was marked by a physical contest, causing Konstantinos Mavropanos to exit due to an injury sustained in an aerial challenge. Both sides had their moments, but West Ham’s quality was evident in the final third.
The second half saw an improved Bristol City, pressing for an equalizer. O’Leary’s resilience kept the Robins in the game, despite West Ham’s attacking prowess.
Ultimately, the match ended in a thrilling draw, setting the stage for an exciting replay.
Player Ratings:
West Ham:
Lukasz Fabianski – 7
Jarrod Bowen – 8
Vladimir Coufal – 6 (Ben Johnson (75) – 6)
Kurt Zouma – 7
Emerson – 6
Tomas Soucek – 6
Pablo Fornals – 7
James Ward-Prowse – 6
Lucas Paqueta – 7 (Divin Mubama (14) – 6)
Edson Alvarez – 6 (Danny Ings (75) – 5)
Konstantinos Mavropanos – 6 (Angelo Ogbonna (39) – 5)
Bristol City:
Max O’Leary – 8
Joe Williams – 8
Jason Knight – 8
George Tanner – 7
Zak Vyner – 7
Rob Dickie – 7
Cam Pring – 7
Anis Mehmeti – 7 (Andreas Weimann (76) – 6)
Tommy Conway – 7 (Nahki Wells (80) – 6)
Taylor Gardner-Hickman – 7 (Matty James (76) – 6)
Sam Bell – 7 (Harry Cornick (86) – 6)
The managers, David Moyes and Liam Manning, are yet to comment after the match.