A superb team performance from Nottingham Forest dumped a youthful inexperienced West Ham United side 5-0 at the City Ground, as Forest advance to the fourth round of the competition.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce selected a young side , with four members of the starting 11 under the age of 21, as Allardyce looked to experiment in the Cup competition.
But Forest were ruthless from the off, and Hammers stopper Adrian had to be at his best to keep Andy Reid’s pile driver out, as Forest took the game to the Hammers at a packed out City Ground.
Jamie Patterson also saw his shot well saved by Adrian, with the Spanish keeper replacing Jaaskelainen in goal.
The Hammers went behind on the 12th minute, after George Moncur tripped Paterson in the area, a penalty was awarded, and Djamel Abdoun stepped up a confidently dinked the ball straight down the middle, past the diving Adrian to give Forest an early lead.
West Ham created their first chance of the game, as central midfielder Ravel Morrison curled a dipping free kick towards the top corner, with Forest keeper Karl Darlow having to tip the ball over the bar.
Allardyce’s decision to play a young side went badly wrong after that, as the Hammers were getting out played by their Championship counterparts, with Forest dictating most the play.
The East London side rarely looked like threatening Karl Darlow in the Forest goal, with the only real save he had to make was a tame curling effort by Hammers striker Modibo Maiga.
Up the other end, Forest almost added a second, as first Jamie Patterson saw his hot saved by Adrian, before Greg Halford curled just wide of the post.
Forest looked superb, and had several chances after that, with Greg Halford heading straight at Adrian from close range, Former Aston Villa defender Eric Lichaj found himself through on goal, but saw his low swerving shot saved, Henry Lansbury also crashed over the bar from long range.
Forest’s inconsistency almost saw West Ham level, as Morrison picked out Sebastian Lletget, who turned Halford and saw his deflected shot well parried away by Darlow.
West Ham had another chance as Maiga saw his drilled effort saved by the impressive Darlow.
West Ham were made to pay just minutes after as Jamie Patterson drilled a low shot into the far corner past the beaten Adrian, with the second goal giving the East Midland’s side some breathing space.
Patterson added his second of the game, after Henri Lansbury’s shot was fortunately deflected into the path of Patterson, who made no mistake and fired home to make it 3-0.
Forest almost made it four after Simon Cox curled just past the post, as Forest were hungry for more.
Patterson added his hat-trick after beating several Hammers defenders and smashed a powerful shot past Adrian to make it four for Forest, Simon Cox almost added a fifth as his header was palmed away by Adrian.
Allardyce’s men almost found a goal, as youngster Blair Turgott headed over from close range, as Ravel Morrison also saw his tame shot easily saved by Darlow.
The final nail was hammered in the West Ham coffin as Andy Reid lashed home a superb dipping effort, to give Forest an emphatic win.
The result will bare serious doubts over Sam Allardyce’s future.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
