Hammers hammer Barnsley to go through to the fourth round

West Ham 3 Barnsley 0

Barnsley’s dreams of another heroic FA Cup run were shattered at Upton Park as West Ham eased into the fourth round.

The Tykes accounted for Liverpool and Chelsea to reach last season’s semi-finals and 5,000 supporters travelled south hoping to witness more drama.

But Barnsley had little answer to an efficient performance from the Hammers, who were 2-0 up by the interval with goals from Herita Ilunga and Mark Noble.

Carlton Cole headed West Ham’s third before Kieron Dyer was introduced off the bench for his first appearance since suffering a broken leg 17 months ago.

For home boss Gianfranco Zola, Dyer’s return to action is the equivalent of a new £6million signing and if West Ham can keep hold of Craig Bellamy, they promise to be quite a handful together up front.

Bellamy was once again West Ham’s creative heartbeat while Noble made an impressive return to the side after recovering from a virus.

Zola named a strong side – resting only Matthew Upson and Valon Behrami, while Scott Parker was suspended – and they took the lead after nine minutes through Ilunga.

Noble’s floated free-kick fell to Ilunga at the far post and he had time to control the ball and slot home his first goal since joining West Ham from Toulouse in the summer.

Barnsley came close to a swift reply when James Collins allowed Kayode Odejayi to steal in for a near-post header, which went just wide.

Barnsley were struggling to deal with Noble’s precise crosses and they were fortunate not to fall two behind when a scuffed clearance fell to Jack Collison, whose snap-shot flew past the post.

Bellamy almost picked out a run from Noble and then Cole before escaping past two Barnsley defenders to whip in a dangerous low cross and earn a corner.

West Ham were closing down well, particularly out wide, but Barnsley midfielder Hugo Solace had better options than to shoot from 45 yards after spotting Robert Green marginally off his line.

Bellamy was growing increasingly impatient with Julien Faubert – and told him so – after the French full-back twice failed to pick him out in space on the edge of the Barnsley box.

West Ham scored their second seven minutes before the interval after Luis Boa Morte launched a swift counter-attack and Noble was fouled in the box by Mounir El Haimour having wriggled his way past the Barnsley defender.

El Haimour was booked before Noble sent the penalty low and inside the right-hand post.

Barnsley produced a spirited response and Hayden Mullins was booked for a foul on Odejayi as the Barnsley striker looked to profit from a rare piece of poor control from Noble.

Green then endured a wobbly three minutes, landing Faubert in trouble with a poor clearance before dropping a corner but West Ham survived the late Barnsley pressure unscathed.

Barnsley started the second half with their tails up, forcing four corners in quick succession.

West Ham had to rely on a slice of luck after Green’s save from a Diego Leon strike rebounded off the post and hit him on the head before going behind for a corner.

Bellamy rifled an effort high and wide before Cole jinked his way to the edge of the box only to be muscled off the ball as keeper Heinz Muller closed down the space.

Collison’s fierce drive brought a solid save from Muller and Boa Morte should have done better to bring the ball under control after being picked out in space but the pace of the game had become laboured.

Zola sent on Matthew Etherington to replace Boa Morte and he was involved immediately as Cole scored West Ham’s third with a deft header.

Etherington linked with Bellamy to work space out wide for Ilunga and Cole met the cross with a glancing header inside the far post.

Zola then sent on Dyer, who was greeted with hearty cheers and almost marked his return to action with a goal but his blistering strike flew just wide from 25 yards.

Dyer fizzed about up front, picking out Faubert with a through ball and offering a creative alternative to Bellamy.

Barnsley almost pulled one back when Leon’s 25-yard free-kick cannoned back off the bar but Collins was on hand to clear.

Noble was then called on to block Jamil Adam’s strike after Jamal Campbell-Ryce had jinked into the West Ham box.

As the clock ticked into injury time, Dyer’s volley dipped just over the bar. Zola will hope it was a sign of things to come.