Moyes claims West Ham ‘deserved’ shootout chance after overcoming adversity

David Moyes TEAMtalk

David Moyes felt West Ham deserved the opportunity to face Manchester United in a penalty shootout after his side crashed out of the FA Cup in extra-time.

Scott McTominay’s well-taken extra-time strike was enough to send United into the quarter-finals at the expense of the Hammers.

On a bitterly cold night at Old Trafford, the hosts came closest to breaking the deadlock inside 90 minutes when Lukasz Fabianski reacted quickly to turn the ball on to a post after Victor Lindelof’s header had taken a huge deflection off Craig Dawson.

However, in a game that included a first ever concussion substitution, when Issa Diop was replaced at half-time, McTominay had the decisive word – firing a volley past Fabianski after Marcus Rashford’s deft touch.

It means United have reached the last eight for a seventh consecutive year, but Moyes felt the Hammers deserved more.

He told BBC Sport: “That was really hard to take because the players played brilliantly well.

Hammers coped well with adversity

“We lost a few players during the game and that was difficult. I don’t think we deserved to lose the game. We warranted the chance to go to penalty kicks.

“One of our centre-backs was on the bench and felt his calf in the warm-up. Before we knew it we had a few players out. We didn’t play well in the first half – we know that. But we were playing a really good team in terrific form.

“In extra-time we had one or two opportunities. I’m not going to look back on the goal conceded – I’ll look at how we played well. The level these teams are at, United have got a really good team.”

Asked if missing frontman Michail Antonio will be fit for the weekend, Moyes added: “I hope so. I don’t think it’s too bad.”