Doncaster Rovers blown off course in FA Cup

The footballing message delivered from the East End of London was just as ominous for Doncaster Rovers – who were caught in the eye of a storm at times.

Rovers had the misfortune to bump into a West Ham side who have now won five games at the start of a calendar year for the first time in the club’s 125-year history.

It proved a one-sided occasion as the hosts produced a domineering and at times relentless display to overpower League One visitors from Yorkshire – just as they did in a victory by a four-goal margin over Hull City in the Carabao Cup in September.

For Rovers, there should be few recriminations, even if they were architects of their own downfall for some of their concessions.

Their desire not to compromise their principles and play out from the back was admirable. But it also came with high risk – to do that against one of the form sides in the country, you must do it pretty well.

West Ham, a serious outfit these days under David Moyes, are not the sort of side who need a leg-up at the minute.

They were, most notably, when Andy Butler’s careless pass infield just after the half-hour mark picked out the hosts’ most dangerous player in Said Benrahma.

The Algerian’s pass was instant and the finish from Andriy Yarmolenko – just a fraction behind Benrahma on the day – was unerringly confident and the tie was effectively over as West Ham doubled their advantage.

The hosts managed two further goals in the second half, but without keeper Ellery Balcombe, it would have been several more.

Without a win at West Ham since before the Queen’s coronation, Rovers were on the receiving end of a regal home performance at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – a display full of instinctive movement, speed of thought and swift and intricate passing.

A group intelligently led by Darren Moore and with a core of senior professionals such as Butler, Tom Anderson and Reece James to compliment some talented, emerging players, there was perspective after for Rovers.

For James – a defender retracing his steps in midfield where he played as a youth at Manchester United – it was an education.

He said: “It was an unbelievable experience playing against top players such as Mark Noble, who has been in the Premier League for God knows how long and internationals like (Tomas) Soucek, who was outstanding.

“You see their quality of movement and you have to be on the swivel at all times whether it is to the left or right or the pass will just go past you.

“You don’t know what to do with the movement and that is where the difference comes in the level of the players – in terms of knowing where to be and not to be and the movement side. It is so hard to defend against.”

In the circumstances, the last thing that Rovers needed was a concession after just 130 seconds.

It came as the visitors were undressed down the right when Yarmolenko supplied the overlapping Ryan Fredericks, at pace, with his cut-back rifled home by Pablo Fornals for a deadly opener.

There were no celebrations from Moyes – and barely any hint of recognition either.

It will not have been lost upon the astute Scot that the Hammers were eliminated in round four by AFC Wimbledon two years earlier and by another League One side in Wigan in January, 2018.

On that latter occasion, almost exactly three years to the day, Moyes was in his first spell in charge. Here there was no embarrassment or let-up from his side.

Manuel Lanzini and Yarmolenko went close to adding to the hosts’ lead and just as Rovers showed signs of regrouping, Butler’s indiscretion was ruthlessly punished by United in the blink of an eye.

There were traces of swagger from Yarmolenko and Benrahma in particular, who both fancied it from the off.

Two-nil up at the break they may have been, but the sight of West Ham showing intensity and desire on the restart and refusing to fall into the trap of coasting said everything about the mentality that Moyes is quietly instilling.

It forced Balcombe into overtime, with the loanee making a scampering save to keep out Benrahma’s free-kick and then doing well to get down low and block Lanzini’s drive from distance.

Two quick saves in succession to deny Soucek – tipping over a dipping volley and beating out a near-post header – continued his eventful start to the second period before he was finally beaten.

A corner from Noble – who played his 514th game for his boyhood club as if it was his first – got a faint flick-on to deceive Balcombe and in attempting to clear, Butler saw the ball hit his thigh before veering into the empty net.

Matt Smith’s drive, which clipped the bar, almost produced a consolidation for Rovers, but the sign off was provided by United when debutant substitute Oladapo Afolayan tapped home after Balcombe parried Fredericks’s cross-shot into his path.

It rounded off a resounding afternoon’s work for a side who increasingly mean business.

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