ROTHERHAM UNITED v WEST HAM UNITED
Matt Smith (MS): Welcome everybody to what promises to be a special occasion. Only in the cup will you see games like this. It's the underdogs Rotherham versus the favourites West Ham and joining me are Roy Keane and Gareth Southgate. Currently West Ham aren't having the best of times in the Premier League, they are currently 18th in the league and are in a real relegation battle. Rotherham, however, are in good form. They enjoyed a great January and are really pushing away from the drop zone in the Championship.
Gareth Southgate (GS): West Ham must be feeling the pressure today, if they don't win then I can see their team losing a lot of confidence.
MS: Can you look past a West Ham win?
GS: Well I look at the 2 teams and you have to say that West Ham are certainly heavy favourites for the game, I can see Rotherham putting up a spirited display but I think the Premier League side have a bit too much for Rotherham.
Roy Keane (RK): I disagree, I believe that Rotherham have a wonderful chance. West Ham are going through a horrid time right now and I think that Paulo Di Canio would rather focus on Premier League survival than a cup run.
MS: Don't you think that a cup run might aid Paulo and his team in there relegation battle? Surely a cup run would help morale at the club.
RK: It could help morale but the more likely result is putting 11 players out for 90 minutes for them to win, only to get knocked out in the next round by a big team. Even if they do try you can't discount Rotherham's spirit. Lately they have been playing wonderful stuff, their last defeat coming against a very strong Middlesbrough team who are flying, I'm going for a Rotherham win today.
GS: I certainly don't want to discount Rotherham I just think that West Ham will be too strong for them. However, I strongly believe that Rotherham will give it there all. I am going for a West Ham win.
Line Ups
The Game
3' Hasselbaink picks the ball up from a spence throw in, he finds Revell in the box but his shot is hit straight at the keeper.
4' GOAL!!! Rotherham 0 - 1 West Ham. The ball is hit out to the left where Stewart Downing hits in a cross to the backpost and Andy Carroll is there to head it past Nash to put the Hammers one up.
4' NO GOAL!!! Rotherham 0 - 0 West Ham. After talking with his assistant the referee has declared that Andy Carroll was offside and has took back the goal.
14' The ball is being passed very well between the Millers midfield and it falls to Pringle 35 yards out who hits a ferousious shot which rattles the crossbar. It flies off the crossbar straight to Alex Revell who has a shot aswell and Jaaskelainen has to tip it onto the crossbar.
42' GOAL!!! Rotherham 1 - 0 West Ham. Skarz picks up the ball in the full-back position and runs the whole of the pitch before laying the ball off the Alex Revell. Revell looks up and finds Hasselbaink lingering around the penalty spot with a pin-point accurate pass and Hasselbaink powers it beyond a bemused Jaaskelainen
45' Skarz gets the ball just inside the Hammers half and puts in a through ball to Revell which beats the entire defence, Revell hits a powerful shot from just outside the box wich beats Jaaskelainen but rattles the bar.
HT
48' Taylor wips a free-kick into the box which Morrison takes down and controls well but his shot is wonderfully saved by Nash.
60' The hour gone and nothing much is happening. Rotherham are keeping the ball at the back trying to consolidate their lead but West Ham are pushing more and more men up.
81' PENALTY!!! West Ham have been awarded a penalty. A free-kick was wipped in by Jarvis and a poor tackle Wright left Taylor on the floor in the box. Rotherham players are protesting heavily.
81' GOAL!!! Rotherham 1 - 1 West Ham. Taylor powers his penalty into the right corner past Nash who guessed the correct way.
FT
Analysis
MS: So once again the cup brings us drama, a late controversial decision brings West Ham back into the tie. Lads what did you make of the penalty decision?
GS: Sometimes they are given, sometimes they are not. I personally I think that they should be given, the lad went in full-blooded but missed the ball and unfortunately got the man behind it. The late goal would hurt Rotherham but it will hurt the keeper more as he was so close to saving it, you watch it back and you can see him almost get his finger tips onto it but the penalty was taken excellently and even if Carlo did get his finger tips on it I think it would of still went in to be fair. Rotherham gave it a good go and their goal was fantastic but they would be gutted that they aren't in the next round.
RK: To be honest I thought he got the ball at the time but looking back on it I can see that Taylor just knocked the ball out the way before Wright connected.
ROTHERHAM 0-1 WIGAN
LEON BARNETT(WGN)
JOSH WRIGHT
JOSH WRIGHT
ROTHERHAM 2-2 NOTTM FOREST
ROTHERHAM 3-0 BLACKPOOL (CHAMPIONSHIP)
xD
