West Ham are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup thanks to a thoroughly professional performance at the Priestfield Stadium.
Having been knocked out of the competition in the last two seasons by League One teams supporters could've been forgiven for harbouring concerns going into tonight's tie.Embed from Getty Images
Zaba's first goal in three years set West Ham on their way
Zaba's first goal in three years set West Ham on their way
But in the end the Hammers breezed through to the next round following a dominating second half performance, during which both goals arrived.
Pablo Zabaleta was the unlikely scorer of the opening goal - the veteran full back only on the pitch due to Ryan Fredericks' retirement with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
The 34-year-old scored from close range 16 minutes from time, before fellow substitute Pablo Fornals confirmed West Ham' place in the next stage of the competition with his third goal of the season in added-on time.
West Ham Utd: Fabianski, Fredericks (Zabaleta 43), Balbuena, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Snodgrass (Fornals 70), Rice, Lanzini, Felipe Anderson (Sanchez 90+5), Haller.
Subs not used: Roberto, Reid, Holland, Ajeti.
Goals: Zabaleta (74), Fornals (90+4).
Booked: Zabaleta.
Gillingham: Bonham, Fuller (Ndjoli 86), Ehmer, Tucker, Ogilvie, Jones, O’Keefe, O’Connor (Marshall 79(, Lee, Jakubiak (Charles-Cook 79), Hanlan.
Subs not used: Walsh, Hodson, Willock, Pringle.
Booked: Jones.
Referee: Andrew Madley.
Attendance: 10,913.
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