West Ham 0 - 5 Manchester City

             

Hammers played Andy Carroll but never hit a cross worth mentioning and he doesn’t have the wit to get in the game any other way, so understudy goalkeeper Willy Cabellero was barely threatened.

Dimitri Payet was rested and Manuel Lanzini anonymous, so City had the run of the midfield and, Reid aside, the home team’s defending was atrocious.

This is not to take the credit away from City, who were excellent, but it’s fair to say they were allowed to be. They are a good team and were pushing against an open door once West Ham’s resistance was broken after 32 minutes.

The hope for West Ham is that they can begin to make new and happy memories in the London Stadium and the first FA Cup tie here was seen as an opportunity. Sadly, all positivity was extinguished before half-time: West Ham 3-0 down, Manchester City coasting, the result a given. No consideration of a comeback, either. West Ham lack mettle this season and once the goals started to go in, heads fell.

West Ham are in a desperate transfer window search for a striker, but the defensive frailty this season is every bit as worrying. As for City, their backs were barely troubled, Carroll short on service and ideas against a team who have been notoriously weak in the air this season.