Allardyce to break Cup hoodoo?

  • by Staff Writer
  • Tuesday, 16th December 2014

Sam Allardyce will be hoping to win his first ever FA Cup tie since joining West Ham when he takes his team to Goodison Park next month.

West Ham might be flying high in the Premier League right now but Big Sam will have to break an unwelcome sequence if he is to help propel West Ham into the next round of the FA Cup.

Back in 2012, in Allardyce's first season at the Boleyn Ground, West Ham were dumped out of the competition at the first attempt by Sheffield Wednesday, then a League One club; the only goal of the game coming from Chris O'Grady two minutes from the end of normal time.

The Hammers fared little better a year later when drawn against Manchester United. Despite having home advantage, West Ham were denied a famous victory when Robin Van Persie scored a 90th minute equaliser to send the game into a replay at Old Trafford, which the hosts won 1-0.

And the less said about last season the better, when a mostly young and inexperienced West Ham team including the likes of George Moncur (now at Colchester), Callum Driver (now at non-league Dartford), Alou Diarra (currently training with Brighton) and Modibo Maiga (on loan at Metz) were thrashed 5-0 by Championship side Nottingham Forest in front of live TV cameras.

In fact, the last time Allardyce managed to take a team beyond the third round of the competition was back in 2009, when his then Blackburn side reached the fifth round before being beaten by Coventry City.

And only twice in 19 seasons has he led a team beyond the 5th round - both whilst at Bolton, in 2000 (semi final) and 2005 (quarter final).


Big Sam's FA Cup Record

West Ham United
2013: 3rd Round (Nottingham Forest)
2012: 3rd Round (Manchester United, replay)
2011: 3rd Round (Sheffield Wednesday)

Blackburn Rovers
2010: 3rd Round (Aston Villa)
2009: 5th Round (Coventry City)

Newcastle United
2008: 3rd Round (sacked before replay with Stoke)

Bolton Wanderers
2007: 4th Round (Arsenal, replay)
2006: 5th Round (West Ham, replay)
2005: Quarter Final (Arsenal)
2004: 3rd Round (Tranmere, replay)
2003: 3rd Round (Sunderland, replay)
2002: 4th Round (Tottenham)
2001: 5th Round (Blackburn, replay)
2000: Semi Final (Aston Villa, penalties)

Notts County
1999: 1st Round (Bournemouth, replay)
1998: 3rd Round (Sheffield Wednesday, replay)
1997: 3rd Round (Aston Villa, replay)

Blackpool
1996: 3rd Round: (Huddersfield)
1995: 1st Round (Preston North End)

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