Hammers’ win leaves bad taste in the mouth

PERHAPS I’m in danger of turning into a romantic old codger as far as football is concerned but, much though they deserved to go through, West Ham’s FA Cup winner at Man City left a bad taste in my mouth.

Alan Pardew's team was attacking down the right side and Christian Dáilly, unusually selected at full back, swung over a high cross. As he did so, he fell to the ground, obviously injured, and seriously so. He'd torn a hamstring.

James, oblivious to Dáilly's plight, caught the cross and threw the ball out quickly to launch City on a dangerous counter-attack. His side was 1-0 down at this point.