West Ham eased their embarrassment at losing to Tranmere in the FA Cup on Saturday by reaching the semi-finals of its poor relation in a frantic cup tie last night.
Even so, they only won 5-4 on penalties after Gareth Southgate had missed Villa's sixth kick. Extra-time had failed to separate the teams and defeat for Aston Villa increased the pressure on John Gregory who knows that failure to beat fellow Premiership strugglers Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday could cost him his job.
A depressing, error-strewn tie erupted into sudden life in the final minute of normal time with the scores level at 1-1. With seconds remaining Villa silenced Upton Park by regaining the lead when Julian Joachim nipped in front of the hapless Javier Margas, crossed from the right and Dion Dublin, unmarked, volleyed the ball home contemptuously from near the penalty spot.
But seconds later, as West Ham summoned up one last, desperate attack, substitute Paul Kitson was fouled in the area by Alan Wright and the referee awarded a penalty kick. Paulo Di Canio calmly stroked it home and suddenly the home fans were celebrating wildly.
The 90-minute whistle blew almost immediately and Gregory could not believe it. The Villa manager watched the game from the stand, his penchant for saying things about, and to, match officials having landed him a 28-day ban from the touchline.
Gregory's hopes for a victory were not helped by the absence of his sparky little striker Benito Carbone, who was cup-tied. However, Villa shook off that loss to go ahead after just four minutes.
The goal owed much to Neil Ruddock's casualness and more to Paul Merson's opportunism. As the West Ham defender tried to shepherd the ball out of play deep in his own area, the former England midfielder hooked in a foot and conjured up a cross from the byline to the near post. There, Ian Taylor strode in unmarked to stroke the ball past Shaka Hislop.
As the first half continued, so did West Ham's sloppiness with player after player giving the ball away. The worst aberration came from Rio Ferdinand, who set up a Villa move which ended with Dublin wasting a great chance from 12 yards.
Paulo Wanchope and Di Canio up front were combining like oil and water, so when the young midfielder Joe Cole picked up a knock and was substituted at half-time, Harry Redknapp chose to bring on another forward in Kitson.
Extra bite was noticeable after the break as West Ham feverishly attacked the Villa area. However, despite all their huff and puff they failed to overly worry David James during an opening 10-minute onslaught.
West Ham looked destined to exit just as they had gone out of the UEFA Cup and FA Cup but then, in the 72nd minute, Lampard took the opportunity to shine. Ferdinand found Di Canio on the right of the Villa area, the Italian laid the ball back and Lampard hammered it home from 12 yards.
West Ham Utd: Hislop, Margas, Ferdinand, Ruddock, Sinclair, Cole (Kitson 46), Lampard, Lomas, Keller, Di Canio, Wanchope (Omoyinmi 112). Subs Not Used: Forrest, Foe, Minto. Booked: Margas, Wanchope, Lomas. Goals: Lampard 72, Di Canio 90 pen.
Aston Villa: James, Ehiogu, Southgate, Barry, Watson, Boateng, Merson (Stone 77), Taylor, Wright, Dublin, Joachim (Vassell 112). Subs Not Used: Cutler, Samuel, Calderwood. Booked: Boateng. Goals: Taylor 4, Dublin 90.
Referee: S Lodge (Barnsley).
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