West Ham United 5 Hull City 1 - Tigers exit Cup as trio sent home after positive Covid-19 test

Defender Issa Diop and midfielder Josh Cullen were initially named in the team to face the League One Tigers.

But 15 minutes later the line-up was changed with both players omitted, and when the teams came out there was no sign of Moyes, with assistant Alan Irvine taking charge.

A club statement subsequently read: “West Ham United can confirm that David Moyes, Issa Diop and Josh Cullen have returned positive tests for Covid-19.

“The club’s medical team were informed of the test results as the team were at London Stadium preparing for this evening’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Hull City.

“The manager and both players immediately left the stadium and have returned home.

“All three, who are asymptomatic, will now follow Public Health England and Premier League guidelines and protocols.

“Everyone at West Ham United send their best wishes to David, Issa and Josh.”

West Ham went on to say their measures and protocols around Covid-19 remain stringent and that they offered to test the Hull team ahead of the fixture, but City did not accept.

It is understood West Ham’s and Hull’s medical departments agreed the match could go ahead, despite the positive tests, within the protocols and in consultation with the EFL’s medical department, and given the evidence that suggests there is very low risk of transmission during a match outdoors.

However, with the news coming on the same day that nearby Leyton Orient had their game against Tottenham postponed due to a number of positive tests, and just as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was outlining new coronavirus restrictions including no prospect of fans returning to matches any time soon, it was not a good look.

Nevertheless, Hull said: “We are satisfied that West Ham followed all guidelines and protocols upon receiving the positive results and, after consulting with the EFL, were comfortable with the game going ahead.

“The club will continue to stringently monitor the well being of our players and staff as per Public Health England and EFL guidelines – as we have done since they were put in place – and we wish the West Ham manager and players the very best.”

City boss Grant McCann added: “We found out just before the team sheets were going to go in, probably an hour before the game.

“We did not come into contact with Moyes or the others. We are happy we followed the EFL protocols and West Ham were adamant on that so we were comfortable to play the game.

“The players knew before the game. The players are not silly. They all knew about it. Once we got here we had to follow the guidelines.”

According to protocols Moyes, Diop and Cullen will have to isolate for 10 days, meaning they will miss Sunday’s match at home to Wolves and the Carabao Cup fourth round.

This third-round tie went ahead as scheduled with Sebastien Haller and Andriy Yarmolenko both scoring twice and Robert Snodgrass also on target in a comfortable victory.

Snodgrass opened the scoring against his former club when he volleyed in a cross from Yarmolenko.

Manuel Lanzini fizzed a shot narrowly wide before Haller made it 2-0 at half-time from Yarmolenko’s lay-off.

Yarmolenko added the third from the penalty spot after a foul on Haller.

Although Mallik Wilks pulled one back, Haller and Yarmolenko struck again in stoppage time as West Ham earned a fourth-round trip to Everton or Fleetwood.

West Ham: Randolph, Ashby (Emmanuel 69), Balbuena, Alese, Johnson, Wilshere, Snodgrass, Yarmolenko, Lanzini, Felipe Anderson, Haller. Unused substitutes: Bowen, Martin, Xande Silva, Trott, Coventry.

Hull: Long, Coyle, Alfie Jones, McLoughlin, Fleming, Batty, Smallwood (Honeyman 17), Scott (Wilks 61), Callum Jones, Mayer (Lewis-Potter 61), Magennis. Unused substitutes: Burke, Emmanuel, Ingram, Samuelsen.

Referee: S Hooper (Wiltshire).

Newport added Watford to their long list of cup scalps as they reached the fourth round of the Carabao Cup for the first time in their history with a 3-1 win over the Championship outfit.

Tristan Abrahams put Newport ahead from the spot and captain Joss Labadie doubled the home side’s lead.

Adalberto Penaranda reduced the deficit from the spot but Padraig Amond made it 3-1, before Watford had Stipe Perica sent off late on.

Manchester United beat Luton 3-0 at Kenilworth Road, but Premier League West Brom were dumped out by Brentford in a penalty shoot-out.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson