West Ham United beat Everton 9-8 on penalties to settle a pulsating FA Cup third-round replay at Upton Park tonight.
It was goalkeeper Adrian who proved the hero as the Spaniard slotted past Joel Robles - who missed his spot-kick a moment earlier - to seal the Hammers' place in the fourth round.
The clash ended 2-2 on the night after 10-man Everton took the clash to extra-time after Kevin Mirallas's stunning free kick eight minutes from the end cancelled out Enner Valencia's earlier opener.
Romelu Lukaku then stabbed the Toffees into a 2-1 lead, but Carlton Cole climbed off the bench and netted an equaliser within 100 seconds of coming on to take the game to penalties.
Below, relive all of the drama with our live text commentary.
Ah, hello and you're very welcome to our live text commentary of Everton's FA Cup third-round replay away at West Ham United. Both sides will do it all again in about an hour after Romelu Lukaku netted a last-gasp equaliser at Goodison Park last week to earn a 1-1 draw for the Toffees. I'm Shane and I'll be keeping you apprised of everything that happens on the pitch at Upton Park this evening.
Allardyce returns to the dugout tonight after missing Saturday's 1-1 draw at Swansea through a chest infection. Did you know the Uniflu boxer is actually based on Big Sam himself? This may not be true, but what is true is that I've got team news on the way so stay tuned!
WEST HAM XI: Adrian, Cresswell, Tomkins, Jarvis, Carroll, Downing, Noble (c), Jenkinson, Collins, Song, Valencia
EVERTON XI: Joel, Baines, Jagielka (c), Stones, Coleman, Barry, Besic, Barkley, Naismith, McGeady, Lukaku.
WEST HAM SUBS: Jaaskelainen, Nolan, Vaz Te, O'Brien, Amalfitano, Cole, Burke
EVERTON SUBS: Griffiths, Oviedo, Kone, Mirallas, Garbutt, Alcaraz, McAleny
Right, let's start with the Hammers and I can tell you that Allardyce makes two changes from that draw at Swansea City - and reported Arsenal target Winston Reid is NOT in the matchday squad!
Reid is replaced in the XI by Alex Song, who starts in midfield after he caught a chest infection after Big Sam coughed on him, while Kevin Nolan drops to the bench for Matt Jarvis. Andy Carroll continues up front, with Jarvis and Stuart Downing offering wide support from the flanks. Enner Valencia, Alex Song and Mark Noble form a midfield three, with Carl Jenkinson, James Collins, James Tomkins and Aaron Cresswell lining up in defence ahead of Adrian between the sticks.
On to the Toffees now and I can tell you that they are unchanged from that 1-1 draw with Man City at the weekend.
Lukaku spearheads the attack once more, with Aiden McGeady, Steven Naismith, Ross Barkley, Muhamed Besic and Gareth Barry supporting from midfield. Further back you've got the same back four that kept City quiet, as Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, John Stones and Seamus Coleman line up across the defence from left to right, while goalkeeper Joel Robles continues to deputise in the absence of injured Tim Howard.
Interesting to see Reid left out for West Ham, isn't it? He might just be injured, but it's a transfer window so we're not allowed to believe in coincidence. He's out of contract in the summer, but recently rejected reports that he signed a pre-contract agreement with another club. The Gunners are heavily linked with a cut-price move for him this month and maybe, just maybe, this omission means that he's Arsenal-bound. Time will tell.
Incidentally, Samuel Eto'o, who is heavily linked with a winter move to Sampdoria, is also nowhere to be seen tonight. Martinez, like Allardyce with Reid, has ruled out a move recently, but this omission seems to betray those comments, eh? It's all gone a bit Heat magazine in here. Let's get back to tonight.
Let's have a quick look at both teams' fortunes this season, and are we in the middle of seeing West Ham's top-four bid peter out, as many suspected it would? According to their form, yes, because Allardyce's side haven't won a league game since December 20 - four matches ago - drawing two and losing two since.
They've dropped to seventh in the standings, four points behind fourth-placed Manchester United and, well, you wonder if they've got it in them to replicate that stunning form from earlier in the season and make their way back up the table again. They're still doing far better than Everton, though, with Martinez's side enduring what is commonly known as an absolute mare of a season so far - on the domestic front, anyway.
The Merseysiders sit 12th in the table, just three points clear of the relegation zone and pre-season suggestions that they could perhaps improve on their fifth-placed finish of last season look a little wide of the mark so far, eh? The Spaniard has only managed two league wins since October, and that 1-1 draw with the Hammers last week ended a four-game losing streak.
To their credit, they have done exceptionally well in Europe, so much so that you could perhaps liken them to the Borussia Dortmund of the Europa League, having enjoyed success on the continent so far despite struggling domestically. They won a group comprising of Wolfsburg, Krasnodar and 2011 French champions Lille, so Martinez will hope that his side bring their Europa League form into tonight.
Despite their rocky Premier League form, West Ham are actually one of five teams that Everton have beat this season, with Romelu Lukaku netting the winning goal in a 2-1 victory at Goodison earlier in the season. Speaking of Lukaku, let's have a quick look at why he could be Everton's best or worst player tonight.
The big Belgian netted a last-gasp equaliser to save the five-time winners from elimination last week and kept up a very promising trend. Lukaku, in fact, has scored in each of his last four meetings with the Hammers, and hasn't failed to score against them in nearly two years oddly enough.
On a sombre note, however, Lukaku was said to be very close to Junior Malanda, the 20-year-old Belgium Under-21 and Wolfsburg player who tragically died in a car accident at the weekend.
Lukaku, who grew up in the same neighbourhood as Malanda in Brussels, took to Instagram to post this message on Sunday: "I'm crying while i'm posting this but this friendship was too good be ended this way ...Junior why u my brother why... We spent so much time together with the others. To see you and my brother jordan having fun was great for me. I'm devastated for your family. Rest in Peace my brother."
However, Martinez has insisted that the 21-year-old is in the right frame of mind for tonight, telling The Guardian on Monday: "We all knew Rom had that relationship with Junior because it was a talking point when we played Wolfsburg in the Europa League, the two of them facing each other. We found out straight after the Man City game. It was such incredible news that it has been tough. Rom has been really affected. Everyone has, to be honest, as we only played them in November.
"It is so sad it is difficult to comprehend. Rom is really down about it. He is in constant contact with the family but he has been very strong over it. Playing football probably allows you to get rid of that feeling and that's exactly what he needs. He trained well yesterday and we are all helping and supporting him."
We should also note that a certain Andy Carroll has found himself in a rich vein of form recently and could be just as much of a threat as Lukaku this evening. He has netted four times in his last seven games, which is Messi and Ronaldo-esque by his standards to be fair.
Incidentally, England boss Roy Hodgson is in attendance tonight, so let's see if Carroll can boost his international hopes ahead of games against Italy and Lithuania in March. He's got some stiff competition in the form of Harry Kane and Charlie Austin to name a few, but surely his past glories for England might stand him in good stead over a recall.
DID YOU KNOW? Both sides have only met each other once in the third round of the FA Cup before? Yep, two goals from Billy Bonds and David Cross helped the Hammers to a 2-1 victory here way back in 1982. Apologies for not mentioning it earlier, but the winner of this match go into a cushty fourth-round tie away to Doncaster or Bristol City, who face off tonight. Three minutes to go!
Right, both sets of players are on the field, and both teams are wearing their away kit. Why? I don't really know, because Everton are wearing white, which doesn't really clash with claret and blue, does it? Lord knows what's going on there.
KICKOFF! Aaaaaaaaaaaand we're off at Upton Park, my friends. Everton, playing from left to right, get us underway.
There might've been something on for Everton there, as Naismith latches on to Seamus Coleman's long ball, but his first touch lets him down and the ball trickles into Adrian's grasp.
Everton probably should've had a free kick in what would've been a decent crossing area, with Andy Carroll bundling Ross Barkley over as the ball rolls out for a goal kick. I'd have given it.
The Hammers forge their first meaningful attack as Aaron Cresswell whips in a fantastic ball looking for Carroll, but Jagielka gets there to prevent his compatriot from reaching it. Super cross it really was.
Really good game this. It's end-to-end and we've only had seven minutes. The tempo will, unfortunately, die down eventually, but we've got the makings of a very decent FA Cup tie here. Don't go anywhere.
Excellent tackle from James Tomkins there as Barkley looked to be teeing up a shot, while Steven Naismith then does brilliantly to dance through a couple of challenges on the edge of the box but it comes to nothing. Everton probably the better side so far, but there's barely anything in it.
CHANCE! Big, big chance as Everton defender John Stones is breathing a huge sigh of relief. The youngster dithers in possession and finds himself dispossessed by Enner Valencia, who beautifully drops the shoulder to deceive Jagielka but, with just Joel to beat, the South American's shot clips off the Toffees keeper, before Carroll headed the rebound off the post. Huge chance, and huge let-off for Stones.
SHOT! We've seen Everton's first shot I think, but it's a shocker as McGeady, on his weaker left foot, fires well wide of Adrian's net.
Very lively first 15 minutes then, and West Ham could, and most definitely should, be 1-0 ahead after Valencia missed a one-on-one with Robles a moment or two ago following an error from Stones. That's the only real chance per se, but it's been very entertaining overall. There will be goals.
McGeady probably fortunate to avoid a yellow card there after sinking his studs into the ankle of Mark Noble. It wasn't a red, but it was definitely deserving of a booking. Gareth Barry goes down now following a high boot from Valencia. I think Neil Swarbrick left his cards in his car.
This is absolutely brilliant running from Carl Jenkinson, who runs the length of the field to chase Downing's searching ball. The pressure forces Stones into a botched back-pass to Joel, whose return pass under pressure is also a shocker as it flies out for a throw-in under. Well done to the Arsenal loanee. His parents are both athletes - 500m runners or something - so you can see where he gets that pace from.
UPDATE: There's three other FA Cup third-round replays tonight, but we're yet to see a goal in any of them unfortunately. We'll keep you updated.
West Ham just growing on top now in recent minutes but they don't look like scoring from any of these attacks. Everton's defence is standing up really well to everything that comes their way thus far - aside from that John Stones fiasco earlier on in the game.
We spoke about Winston Reid's prospective move to Arsenal pre-game, but I can confirm that he's on the West Ham bench - not a substitute - with his teammates, so perhaps the omission was injury-related afterall.
CLOSE! This wasn't far away at all, as Downing, on his weaker right foot, lines up a shot from just outside the box but it goes narrowly wide. It had Joel Robles haring across to reach it so, had it been on target, it might've been in.
UPDATE: Fulham are beating Wolves 1-0 at Molineux, courtesy of a Cauley Woodrow goal. It's the first goal from four FA Cup replays tonight.
CHANCE! West Ham well on top, and they might've done ahead just then as Alex Song finds himself on the end of Downing's cut-back, but his shot is blocked by Valencia's elbow and Everton can breathe again. It's a big 10 minutes in this half coming up; dare I suggest that it could shape the match.
Song is having a mare overall. He's had an exceptional season for the Hammers, but he's not at the races tonight. He's only back from a chest infection so perhaps that's still affecting him, but he's a liability in that midfield so far.
BOOKING: McGeady goes into the book now for cynically fouling Matt Jarvis. Good decision.
UPDATE: We've seen our second goal of the night and Jay-Emmanuel Thomas fires Bristol City into a 1-0 lead over Doncaster Rovers.
Really good play from Everton as Lukaku plays in Naismith, who then plays a wonderful first-time pass to release McGeady but Adrian is swiftly off his line to pressure the Irishman and avert the danger. Everton's best move so far.
HALF TIME: WEST HAM 0-0 EVERTON
Well, that's all she wrote in that half ladies and gents. It's goalless, but don't let the scoreline fool you into believing that it's been a damp squib because it's been anything but.
West Ham had the best and only chance in an otherwise very entertaining first half as the Ecuador international capitalised on a John Stones mistake before going through with Joel Robles, but he fluffed his lines in front of goal.
Everton have strung some really slick moves together but they're yet to really fashion a goalscoring opportunity, with James Collins particularly brilliant in the heart of the Hammers defence. We're 45 minutes away from extra-time.
West Ham youngster Joe Powell is on the field, where a table and chair has been setting out for him and he has just signed his first professional contract. Must be a great feeling, and I'm a little jealous. Fair play to him.
RESTART! Right, so we're back at Upton Park. West Ham, playing from left to right, get us back underway as one of these sides will move into the fourth round - but how will victory be determined? Remember, we've got extra-time and penalties to determine this one if needs be. Penalties would be great.
Everton start this half marginally the better of both sides, as Barkley and Lukaku exchange a neat one-two, but Barkley is thwarted by the defending Matt Jarvis before he can get his shot away.
SHOT! Half-chance for James Collins, who finds himself on the end of Carroll's knock-down from a corner, but after turning, failed to keep his shot under the crossbar.
GOAL!!! WEST HAM 1-0 EVERTON (Enner Valencia)
We've got lift-off at the Boleyn Ground as Valencia fires West Ham into the lead. He's played in by Carroll, but he's still got plenty to do as he faces a jockeying Stones, but he still manages to squeeze his shot past his marker and Robles. One or two question marks over Stones, who probably could've been a little tighter, but West Ham won't care. It's also Valencia's first goal at Upton Park.
As it stands, Allardyce's side are heading to Ashton Gate in the fourth round for a clash with Bristol City, who are beating Doncaster 1-0.
SHOT! Everton fashion their first shot on target and it's Lukaku, who takes aim from long range but Adrian is equal to it. Credit to James Collins, who has given Lukaku little more than a sniff tonight.
RED CARD! It's gone from bad to worse for Everton, who lose Aiden McGeady to a second yellow card. It's a typical winger's tackle after sliding in on Mark Noble, and he can have no complaints. Silly, really.
West Ham have their tails up now and Collins is inches away from latching on to Alex Song's incisive pass. It's the best pass that Song has played all night. Looks like he wants to improve on that dreadful first-half display.
SUB: First sub of the night and Allardyce withdraws Alex Song - who was sick with a chest infection recently - in favour of Kevin Nolan. I wouldn't rule Everton out just yet, though; even without McGeady, they've still looked decent enough going forwards. There might just be a few more twists in this one yet.
Everton are going to whip a free kick into the box now after Carroll fouled Lukaku...
But it comes to nothing as the brilliant James Collins heads away to safety. He's been so good tonight.
CLOSE!!! The Hammers are about half a metre away from a second goal as Aaron Cresswell fires a left-footed shot just wide. Fine effort, but lacked the precision.
SUB: Martinez is making a double sub now as Kevin Mirallas and Bryan Oviedo replace Besic and Barkley respectively. Mirallas is a fine talent so if Everton are to defy their numerical disadvantage, he's going to have a big say in it.
SUB: Two changes apiece now as Morgan Amalfitano replaces Matt Jarvis. We've got around 20 minutes left. Can Everton do it? It's a big ask, but I think they'll get a chance; the question is will they make it count?
BOOKING: Second booking of the night - or third if we're including both of McGeady's - as substitution Nolan receives a yellow card for a late challenge on Phil Jagielka, who's just that bit quicker than the West Ham man in a 50-50 ball.
Right, 10-man Everton are 15 minutes away from elimination, but they're still struggling to create much in the final third. This isn't really indicative of their obvious disadvantage, because even in the first half, with 11 men, they had big problems getting past this staunch West Ham defence.
CLOSE! Super ball from Cresswell as Carroll out-climbs Baines, but he can't keep his header under the crossbar.
BOOKING: Mirallas goes into the book for dissent it seems. He is quite a petulant bloke at the best of times, isn't he?
BLOCK! Oh my word what a brilliant block. West Ham fail to clear their lines following Lukaku's teasing ball, and the ball falls to Mirallas, who just has to roll it into an empty net but Tomkins is on hand to block on the line. We said would Everton take their chance if they got it, and they didn't!
SAVE! It started out as an end-to-end game, and it's probably going to finish that way as West Ham go down the other end and James Collins's thumping header is tipped over by Robles. Fine save. 10 minutes left.
GOAL!!!!! WEST HAM 1-1 EVERTON (Kevin Mirallas)
We said Mirallas was going to have a big say if Everton were to get back into it, and the Belgian has levelled up with a brilliant free kick. Adrian gave him a little bit too much to aim at, but take nothing from Mirallas, who curled beautifully around the wall. Stunning.
BOOKING: Gareth Barry is booked now for a bad foul on Carroll, and let's see if West Ham have their own free kick expert to wrestle this tie away from Everton once and for all. Cresswell is standing over it...
It was Cresswell, but his free kick sails a good bit over the bar. It was never worrying Robles.
The hosts want a penalty after Valencia's cross is blocked by the hand of John Stones, but it's given as a free kick and West Ham waste the chance. We're going to extra time as it stands.
WHAT A SAVE!!! This is world class from Robles. Nolan's acrobatic effort looks to be looping over the big Everton keeper, but Robles gets his finger tips to the ball and paws it over the bar. Ridiculous. He's having a stormer here.
FOUR MINUTES ADDED ON:
We're into the last minute of the four added on now and it looks extra-time is on the horizon, my friends. It's not a bad thing because it's been a cracking tie.
FULL TIME: WEST HAM EVERTON 1-1 EVERTON Yep, an additional 30 minutes is needed to determine this one, my friends.
FIRST HALF OF EXTRA TIME: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off. What a cup tie this is, folks. Just a quick update about the other games this evening, and only Bristol City - who one of these two will face in the fourth round - are through. Fulham and Wolves, and Chesterfield and Scunthorpe are also in ET.
CHANCE! Robles has been brilliant but he got a bit lucky here. He saves Mark Noble's tame shot, but he can't hang on it as Andy Carroll looks to tap home the rebound, but the big striker handled the ball in the process.
You have to assume that 10-man Everton will tire as the game goes on. They're working really, really hard, but there's still a good 25 minutes left. If it goes to penalties some of these Everton lads might be struggling to take a run-up!
GOAL!!!! WEST HAM 1-2 EVERTON (Romelu Lukaku)
Stunning! Kevin Mirallas does absolutely brilliantly, wriggling his way through West Ham's defence before playing the ball across to Lukaku, who slides home from close range. The Belgian, whose friend and Wolfsburg player Junior Malanda passed away in a car crash on Sunday, points to the sky in tribute to his late friend.
We said that Mirallas would have a big impact when he came on, and how important he has been. Fine equaliser and an even better assist to set up Lukaku. Top class.
West Ham had one or two forays into Everton's half just then but they came to nothing. They've still got about 17 minutes to force an equaliser, however. Fair play to Everton though; they've been fantastic.
HALFTIME OF ET: WEST HAM EVERTON 1-2 EVERTON
Unbelievably, Everton, who have had 10 men since 55 minutes, are 15 minutes away from the fourth round of the FA Cup thanks to a Kevin Mirallas masterclass. He came on and netted the equaliser with eight minutes remaining, before producing one of the competition's great assists to set up Lukaku to help Everton into a 2-1 lead. Crazy, but we love it!
RESTART: And we're back underway and Everton attack straight away, but Mirallas' shot loops over Adrian and bounces wide. It's going to be a long 15 minutes for the visitors, regardless of their adventurous start to this half.
Everton want a penalty but, after consulting his official, referee Neil Swarbrick has awarded them a free kick right on the edge of the box, but Oviedo's delivery fails to beat the first man.
SUB: Last-chance saloon for the Hammers, who usher Carlton Cole into the frey here. Can he take us to penalties? He's got 10 minutes so let's see.
GOAL!!!! WEST HAM 2-2 EVERTON (Carlton Cole)
Oh my word we've seen yet another twist! Carlton Cole taps home an equaliser 100 seconds after coming on. Tomkins climbs above John Stones to meet Noble's corner, and Cole is on the end of the knock-down to tap home from close range. Game on.
West Ham have another corner and let's see what this produces...
CLOSE! Carroll comes within an inch from being the hero as he heads Nolan's corner agonisingly wide. It came off Jagielka last as they won another corner, but that one came to nothing. It's going to be a very, very long five minutes if you're an Evertonian.
CHANCE!!!!!!! Oh my lord. Lukaku bullies his way through West Ham's defence but, with just Adrian to beat, scuffs his left-footed shot wide and he can't believe it - neither can Roberto Martinez, who has to pick his jaw up from the floor. How costly will that miss prove in around 15 minutes after penalties?
There's a bit of argy-bargy between West Ham teammates Noble and Tomkins as tempers look to be reaching boiling point. Kevin Nolan acts as peace-maker though to defuse the situation though.
CHANCE!!!! Amalfitano plays in Valencia down the right-hand flank but, for some mad reason, the Ecuadorian tries to play in Cole instead of shooting and Robles gobbles the ball up. This is a mental game.
ON TO PENALTIES WE GO!!!!
Roberto Martinez wanted to make his third Everton sub but there wasn't enough time left! Carlton Cole brought us to penalties with a late equaliser to make it 2-2, nothing less than they deserve to be fair. This one is too close to call, my friends.
"I'm forever blowing bubbles" echoes around Upton Park as the Hammers fan look to inspire West Ham to penalty shootout success here. Kevin Mirallas is up first. Stay tuned...
Mirallas scores!!! He fires straight down the middle to deceive Adrian and it's 1-0 Everton.
Noble scores!!! Good, calm penalty by Mark Noble to make it 1-1. He took a big enough run-up, but he kept his cool. Good penalty.
Naismith misses!!!! Adrian had a word with Naismith before the penalty was taken, and it's paid dividends as the Spaniard thwarts his Scottish counterpart.
Nolan scores!!!! It's 2-1 to the hosts as Kevin Nolan slots past Robles.
Lukaku scores!!!! Ridiculously slick penalty from Lukaku, who casually slots home to make it 2-2.
Carroll scores!!! Another fine peno as Carroll strokes home right into the corner to make it 3-2 to West Ham.
Baines scores!!!! Adrian gets a firm hand on Baines's peno, but he can't keep it out and it's 3-3....
Cresswell scores!!!! The Hammers' left-back scores now and Oviedo must score....
Oviedo scores!!!! And the Spaniard keeps his cool, rolling the ball down the middle and Downing could be the hero.
Downing misses!!!!!! Oh no what a shocker as Downing misses the chance to be the hero and we're going to sudden death.
Barry scores!!!! Good penalty from Gareth Barry to pile pressure on Carlton Cole. I'm worried for him.
Cole scores!!! No need to be worried, though, as Cole strokes home West Ham's fifth. John Stones is up next.
Stones scores!!!! The defender lives up to his surname and scores - albeit with a bit of luck. Valencia up next...
Valencia scores!!!!! And it's 6-6 as Valencia finds the corner with a fine penalty. I don't see this one ending.
Jagielka scores!!!! Excellent from Penalty from Jagielka as Everton move 7-6 ahead.
Amalfitano scores!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand it's 7-7 of course. Good penalty from the Frenchman.
Coleman scores!!!! Very decent penalty from the Irishman and it's pressure on Carl Jenkinson now....
Jenkinson scores!!!! He smashes straight down the middle to make it 8-8 - and it's goalkeeper vs goalkeeper now...
Robles misses!!!! Advantage West Ham now as Joel Robles smashes against the crossbar - and Adrian can win this now.
Adrian scores!!!! It's taken over a week, but West Ham are finally through to the fourth round after a scintillating third-round FA Cup replay.
It came down to both goalkeepers in the end, and Robles, after an agonisingly slow run-up, is the villain after his spot-kick cannoned off the woodwork. Cruel, considering he's been a candidate for man of the match, but there had to be a winner and Adrian saw his side over the line.
Anyways, that's all we've got time for unfortunately, folks. I've enjoyed it, and I know you have, too. Until next time...
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
