Crysencio Summerville's deflected shot in extra time proved decisive as West Ham United narrowly avoided an FA Cup upset with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burton Albion. The match, held at Burton's Pirelli Stadium, saw West Ham's second-string side struggle for fluency, but Summerville's late intervention spared their blushes and secured a place in the fifth round.
West Ham's Uncomfortable Afternoon
With key players like captain Jarrod Bowen rested, West Ham fielded a weakened lineup that made for a tense and uncomfortable afternoon. The visitors lacked cohesion in the first half, failing to impose their Premier League quality on a determined Burton side. However, they improved after the break, creating sporadic chances through Adama Traoré and Callum Wilson, though clear opportunities remained scarce for both teams.
Burton's Inspired Effort
Burton Albion, managed by the charismatic Gary Bowyer, approached the game with high belief, aiming to bridge the 47-place gap between the clubs. Bowyer had motivated his squad with videos of past cup upsets, including Burton's own replay at Old Trafford in 2006 and recent shocks like Stevenage beating Aston Villa. This psychological preparation nearly paid off, as Burton defended resolutely and threatened on the counter, keeping West Ham on edge throughout.
Extra-Time Drama
The deadlock was broken four minutes into extra time when Summerville, cutting in from the left, unleashed a curled shot that took a deflection and looped over Burton goalkeeper Brad Collins. The goal seemed to settle the tie, but West Ham's Freddie Potts received a red card 11 minutes into extra time for a foul on Julian Larsson, forcing the visitors to play the remainder with 10 men.
This dismissal sparked a nervy finale, with Burton pushing for an equalizer. Jack Armer missed a late chance, and Kain Adom fired into the side netting in stoppage time, but West Ham held on, with substitutes Axel Disasi and Malick Diouf brought on to shore up the defence.
Historical Context and Team Changes
West Ham's reliance on a late substitute echoed their 2022 FA Cup escape at Kidderminster, where Declan Rice rescued the team. In this match, Summerville filled that role, highlighting the club's recent cup struggles. West Ham made several changes, with Konstantinos Mavropanos the only survivor from their midweek draw with Manchester United. Debuts were handed to Keiber Lamadrid, on loan from Deportivo La Guaira, while Mohamadou Kanté and Adama Traoré made their first starts.
Burton, currently 21st in League One and winless in five matches, nearly pulled off a historic upset. Their goalkeeper Brad Collins, on loan from Coventry, made key saves, but the deflection on Summerville's shot ultimately proved insurmountable. The result ends Burton's cup run, but their spirited performance earned plaudits.
West Ham now advance to the FA Cup fifth round, relieved to have avoided an embarrassing exit. The match underscored the unpredictable nature of cup football, where lower-league sides can challenge elite opponents, even if Premier League quality ultimately prevailed in this instance.
