West Ham face a third round replay at Eastlands in ten days time after playing out a bore draw against high-flying Manchester City at The Boleyn Ground this afternoon.
Despite reverting to a two-man front line the Hammers lacked the necessary punch to trouble the visitors, who will be firm favourites for the replay having yet to lose a game at Eastlands this season.Chances for either side were few and far between with City apparently content to sit back and soak up the pressure, playing just one man up front.
However Dean Ashton could have won the game for the Hammers in the closing stages - but he saw his strong header tipped over the bar by young City keeper Joe Hart.
City will claim that they should have been awarded a first half penalty when Martin Petrov appeared to be tripped by Anton Ferdinand inside the box in the 19th minute; fortunately for West Ham, referee Rob Styles didn't agree.
Click here to read a full match report.
Match Facts
West Ham United: Green, Neill (Spector 46), McCartney, Upson, Ferdinand, Noble, Mullins (Bowyer 75), Paintsil, Etherington (Reid 69), Cole, Ashton.
Subs not used: Wright, Collins.
Manchester City: Hart, Onuoha, Ball, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Corluka, Ireland (Etuhu 66), Hamann, Petrov, Castillo (Gelson 72), Vassell (Bianchi 79).
Subs not used: Schmeichel, Garrido.
Booked: Corluka (90).
Referee: Rob Styles.
Attendance: 33,806.
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