Source: Daily_Mail
Hartlepool 0 West Ham 2: Ref takes centre stage as Hammers reach the fifth round
Noble cause: The West Ham midfielder scores from the penalty spot to make it 2-0
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola fielded a strong side for this afternoon's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Hartlepool at Victoria Park.The Italian made just two changes to the team which started against Fulham last weekend with Julien Faubert and James Tomkins replacing Lucas Neill and Matthew Upson.
Hartlepool's director of sport Chris Turner recalled full-back Antony Sweeney from an ankle injury in place of Jamie McCunnie, who dropped to the bench.The League One side were attempting to reach the fifth round for the first time in their history after reaching this stage for the sixth time in their centenary year.
Watching brief: Gianfranco Zola on the sidelines
The home side started brightly in front of a packed house on a crisp afternoon on the north-east coast, although it was their keeper, Arran Lee-Barrett who was first to come under pressure with just two minutes gone.Central defender Michael Nelson got his head to a dangerous cross, but could only loop the ball towards his own goal, where Lee-Barratt was forced to tip it over for a corner.Hammers skipper Scott Parker fired high over from distance from the resulting corner after the ball had been played out to him.Mark Noble went closer for the visitors with six minutes gone when he curled a shot just wide of the far post from the edge of the box as the Barclays Premier League side started to exert some pressure.However, it was Pool who almost went in front three minutes later when striker Michael Mackay met Matty Robson's corner with a downward header after keeper Robert Green had failed to collect the cross and Parker had to hack it off the line.Andy Monkhouse threatened again with 11 minutes gone when he cut inside full-back Herita Ilunga, but he curled his left-foot effort well wide.Monkhouse went for goal once again with 18 minutes gone, this time from 25 yards, and Green was concerned enough to scurry across his goal as the ball sped past the post.
West Ham started to come into the game after weathering a difficult period, but front two Carlton Cole and David di Michele were seeing little of the ball in areas where they could do any damage as Nelson and Ben Clark kept them at bay.
In the thick of it: Carlton Cole challenges Hartlepool keeper Arran Lee-Barrett
However, the Pool goal came under intense pressure seconds later when Ilunga found Cole inside the box and his shot was blocked by Sweeney, and then Ritchie Humphreys had to throw himself into the path of Mark Noble's effort after the ball ran to him.
Ilunga provided the ammunition once again a minute later, sending in a low cross to which Lee-Barrett just managed to get a hand before Cole could pounce.
The keeper got down well to claim Di Michele's 33rd-minute shot as the game began to open up.
Cole was booked for a rash 39th-minute challenge on Lee-Barrett which sparked a melee and led to him being booed by the home crowd at every touch.
But it was the Hammers who took the lead a minute before half-time when Jack Collinson's quick feet opened up the space for Valon Behrami, whose left-foot shot flew past Lee-Barrett and into the far corner.
And they extended their lead in injury time when, after Nelson had handled Cole's flick-on - replays showed he was a yard outside the box - Noble converted the resulting penalty to make it 2-0.
The home side began the second half knowing their remote hopes depended on an early strike and they set about their task from the off, although the visitors were equally well aware that if the next goal came their way, passage was secure.They might have got it within three minutes of the restart when Behrami ran on to a loose ball inside the penalty area and fired in a cross which Lee-Barrett gratefully turned away for a corner.
That's my boy: Scorer Valon Behrami celebrates with team-mate Jack Collison
James Collins got his head to the resulting set-piece but could not direct the ball at goal to spare Hartlepool further punishment.Turner's side had certainly not thrown in the towel, although some of the sting had gone our of their game with the visitors visibly more comfortable than they had been before the break.Cole was public enemy number one with the home fans, but his power and physical presence were proving major weapons for Zola's men as they looked to see out the game.Mackay made way for loan signing Liam Henderson with 56 minutes gone as Turner looked for fresh inspiration, but the Hammers' organisation was proving difficult to disrupt.Pool had a rare glimmer of hope on the hour when they won a left-wing corner, but Ritchie Jones' cross was easily picked off by Green.Collins followed Cole and Ilunga into the book for a foul on Porter seconds later as Mason was kept busy.But it took a fine save from Green to protect his side's advantage when Gary Liddle powered a 62nd-minute header towards goal from Robson's cross, only for the keeper to throw out a hand and turn it away.
Getting shirty: Julien Faubert and Hartlepool United's Joel Porter battle for possession
Cole should have wrapped up the win 16 minutes from time when he was played in by Di Michele.The striker ran clear and tried to steer his right-foot shot past Lee-Barrett, but the advancing goalkeeper got a touch and the ball came back off the post.Di Michele immediately made way for midfielder Hayden Mullins, and Cole soon followed to a chorus of boos as Freddie Sears entered the fray with 11 minutes remaining.Sears fired high and wide five minutes from time, but in truth, the game ended as a contest long before.
