Online Reporter
WEST HAM’s FA Cup clash with Burton Albion ended in a brawl as tensions flared close to the final whistle.
A surprisingly feisty affair ignited after a cynical foul from the Hammers’ Kyle Walker-Peters caused a confrontation in the middle of the pitch.
The full-back dragged a Burton player back to stop a counter as the visitors desperately held on to their 1-0 lead, courtesy of a Crysencio Summerville effort.
Both players squared up to one another directly in front of the referee, before other players rushed to get involved in the confrontation.
Burton forward Kain Adom was perhaps lucky to avoid a red card after appearing to shove a player near the neck in the melee, before being dragged away by Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Even Burton keeper Bradley Collins ran to the halfway line to get stuck into the clash, receiving a yellow card for his troubles.
Tensions had been growing in the cagey affair at the Pirelli Stadium since Freddie Potts’ sending off in the first period of extra time.
The West Ham academy graduate put a horror tackle in on Julian Larsson in the 12th minute of extra time. The referee initially looked to brandish a yellow, before changing his mind and handing the young midfielder his marching orders.
The decision lifted the home fans up as they smelled blood in the water, but the visitors weathered a storm of chances to get the win over the line. The match itself was considerably less energetic than its final moments.
Things got off to a poor start as kick-off was delayed due to the staff finding a hole in one of the nets. A banner protesting West Ham’s ownership was also flown above the stadium in a bizarre spectacle.
Summerville proved to be the hero of the day as he climbed off the bench to fire home his sixth goal in seven for the hammers.
The Dutchman came on with seven minutes of normal time left, before firing in an unstoppable effort thanks to a deflection.
Nuno Espirito Santo gave Jarrod Bowen, Mateus Fernandes and Tomas Soucek the weekend off as he made TEN changes from the team that drew with Manchester United 1-1 on Tuesday. Mavropanos was the only player to keep his place with the Hammers boss prioritising his side’s top-flight survival hopes.
But even then, this was an unconvincing performance, against a Burton team sitting in the League One relegation zone and who have not kept a clean sheet for 11 games – Sun.
