Sunday News (includes West Ham)
Posted: 15 Feb 2026, 10:26
BBC
Liverpool are the frontrunners in a race with Manchester City and Arsenal to sign Newcastle United's former Everton winger Anthony Gordon, 24, but the England international will cost £95m. (Caughtoffside), external
The move comes as Mohamed Salah, 33, looks set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, with the Saudi Pro League planning to push ahead with plans to land the Egyptian forward. (Teamtalk), external
Liverpool are also in another battle, this time with Manchester United, for Wolves' 18-year-old forward Mateus Mane this summer. The Portuguese-born England youth international is valued at £50m by his club. (Fichajes), external
Tottenham rebuffed enquiries from Aston Villa and Chelsea last month for their Sweden midfielder Lucas Bergvall, 20. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is determined to sign France centre-back Castello Lukeba, 23, from RB Leipzig, with the German club prepared to sell him for £52.1m. (Sports Boom via Teamtalk), external
Arsenal are also scouting RB Leipzig's 20-year-old Norwegian winger Antonio Nusa, who is valued at between 50-60m euros (£43m-£52m). (Fussball Daten - in German), external
Aston Villa have lined up Manchester City's England goalkeeper James Trafford, 23, as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martinez should the 33-year-old Argentina number one leave this summer. (Football Insider), external
Manchester United scouts were at the San Siro on Saturday to watch Inter Milan's 28-year-old Italy left-back Federico Dimarco and France centre-back Pierre Kalulu, 25, of Juventus. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
The "one dream" of Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, 25, is to play for Real Madrid, says the Hungary captain's national team coach Marco Rossi. (Marca - in Spanish), external
Enzo Maresca remains the leading candidate to replace Pep Guardiola when he eventually leaves Manchester City and has not held talks with Tottenham over their permanent manager's job following Thomas Frank's departure. (Fabrizio Romano)
Sky Paper Talk
PREMIER LEAGUE
Harry Maguire’s team-mates want Manchester United to offer him a new contract - The Sun
Chelsea and Aston Villa reportedly made surprise enquiries for Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall during the January transfer window - Daily Mail
The head coach of the Hungarian national team has claimed that Dominik Szoboszlai has always 'dreamed' of playing for Real Madrid amid fresh transfer speculation over the Liverpool midfielder - Sunday Mirror
West Ham fans staged a protest against the club’s ownership before and during the extra-time win over Burton Albion - Sunday Mirror
EFL
A multinational group led by Robbie Earle has made a bid for a minority stake in AFC Wimbledon, the south London-based club that was born in 2002 after Earle's former team Wimbledon FC moved to Milton Keynes - The Atheltic
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has gushed about his connection to Scotland amid links with the Celtic manager post - Mail on Sunday
Danilo has lifted the lid on the chaotic final days of the winter transfer window as he closed in on a move away from Ibrox - Scottish Sun
A Scottish football club has vowed to come down hard on one of its own fans for making an “abhorrent” comment towards their former manager - Scottish Sun
EUROPEAN FOOTBALL
Como manager Cesc Fabregas brutally suggested one of his big-name stars - Alvaro Morata - should stop playing football after his red card against Fiorentina - Daily Mail
WORLD CUP
World Cup group games for England and Scotland are under threat - because the stadium has yet to be granted a licence - The Sun
WINTER OLYMPICS
Vladyslav Heraskevych has been awarded the Ukraine order of freedom by president Volodymyr Zelensky following the skeleton racer's disqualification from the Winter Olympics - The Telegraph
The Canadian curler at the centre of a cheating row at the Winter Olympics has denied any wrongdoing, accusing the Swedish team of deliberately trying to "catch us in the act" - The Guardian
Guardian
Summerville strike earns 10-man West Ham extra-time FA Cup win at Burton
Crysencio Summerville’s deflected shot wins the game for West Ham. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters
Ben Fisher at the Pirelli Stadium
For West Ham’s second string, barring a shock defeat this could hardly have been a more uncomfortable ride. With the captain, Jarrod Bowen, among the clutch of regulars given a breather, it was Crysencio Summerville, a late substitute Nuno Espírito Santo would have rather kept fresh, who spared embarrassment at Burton Albion and helped them into the FA Cup fifth round. Four years ago at Kidderminster in this competition it was Declan Rice who came on to save their skin and it was a similar story here, Summerville’s extra-time strike ultimately preventing penalties.
West Ham squeezed through, Freddie Potts’s red card 11 minutes into extra time for crunching into Julian Larsson ensuring a nervy finale. A couple of nearly-moments may linger; in the final seconds, at which point these teams had been slogging it out for 133 minutes, the substitute Kain Adom saw an effort repelled by Alphonse Areola and Kegs Chauke, another sub, skittled the rebound into the side-netting to gasps.
In the first half the hosts had a penalty appeal waved away when the stand-in West Ham captain, Konstantinos Mavropanos, barged Jake Beesley in the box and in the second half of extra time the Burton striker failed to arrange his feet after reading an inviting cross.
For Gary Bowyer, Burton’s colourful head coach who was wearing boxing gloves when he greeted his squad in the dressing room, a nod to the sporting theme his team adopted through this Cup run, they almost landed a knockout blow. “It was some effort but we couldn’t quite capitalise in key moments – we had to make those count,” said Bowyer, frustrated at the manner of the winning goal. “We had shown the boys what he [Summerville] is capable of doing and he did exactly that.”
Filling his players with belief was Bowyer’s primary objective, empowering them to bridge the 47-place gap between the sides and register their names in history, reaching the last 16 of the competition for the first time. Burton made it to the Carabao Cup semi-finals under Nigel Clough seven years ago, when the goalkeeper Brad Collins, on loan then from Chelsea and now from Coventry, endured a draining night picking the ball out of his net as Manchester City killed the tie with a 9-0 first-leg victory. John Brayford, part of Bowyer’s coaching staff, was in defence that day.
There was a different energy to this game, however, and these opponents were devoid of quality until Nuno introduced Summerville and Valentin Castellanos on 82 minutes. Kick-off was delayed as a hole in Areola’s net was patched up in front of the visiting West Ham fans, who sang against the club’s chair, David Sullivan and vice-chair, Karren Brady. The message also rained down from a few thousand feet, a plane flying over the Pirelli Stadium trailing a banner against the hierarchy.
Tempers flare between Burton and West Ham after Freddie Potts’s red card. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA
West Ham treated the first half like an inconvenience, Mohamadou Kanté’s skied shot that easily cleared the West Stand terrace symptomatic of a dire display.
Mavropanos was the only survivor from the side that would have beaten Manchester United on Tuesday but for Benjamin Sesko’s 96th-minute equaliser and the debutant Keiber Lamadrid was among those who struggled. It was Adama Traoré, on his first start, who exhibited West Ham’s first flash of Premier League quality nine minutes into the second half, pressing pause and then speeding past Toby Sibbick before sending a dangerous ball into the six-yard box. The ball eluded Callum Wilson and just as Ollie Scarles attacked the cross, Kyran Lofthouse intervened to take it off his toes.
West Ham improved – albeit it was a low bar – against a side who will, like West Ham, reimmerse themselves in a relegation battle next week. Mavropanos soared high to direct a header at Collins and a few minutes later the Greece defender skewed wide. Wilson sent a first-time shot at goal from a tight angle but there was little evidence to suggest this game would finish in regular time.
Both teams struggled to create clear chances, prompting the in-form Summerville to take matters into his own hands four minutes into extra time. The winger darted inside from the left flank and drifted unopposed towards the edge of the box, dispatching a curled shot at goal that looped past Collins via a deflection.
Given the paucity of openings, that, surely, was that? Potts’s red card plunged West Ham into trouble, Jack Armer placing a shot wide before Burton threw bodies forward. Nuno called for Axel Disasi and Malick Diouf to see out the game. It was ugly but West Ham got the job done. “We achieved what we came here to do,” Nuno said.
The Athletic
Burton Albion 0-1 West Ham: A banner in the sky, Potts’ strange red card and another Summerville goal
Crysencio Summerville after scoring the only goal of the game against Burton Darren Staples/Getty Images
By Anantaajith Raghuraman
West Ham United huffed and puffed their way to a 1-0 extra-time win over Burton Albion on Saturday to move into the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, without captain Jarrod Bowen, who was rested for the trip, were outshot (two attempts to Burton’s seven) in the first half as the hosts’ physicality and discipline caused problems at both ends. West Ham grew into the second half, but it took a 95th-minute goal from substitute Crysencio Summerville — his sixth in seven matches — to break the deadlock.
Substitute Freddie Potts was then sent off in strange circumstances following a foul on Julian Larsson, leaving 10-man West Ham to defend a thin lead for over 20 minutes.
Burton created problems but the visitors held on, with Summerville even spurning a great chance to add a second late on.
The Athletic’s Anantaajith Raghuraman breaks down the key talking points from Staffordshire.
More fan protests… this time with a flying banner
West Ham fans have made their issues with the club’s ownership — particularly chairman David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady — clear over the course of a tumultuous season. They are in the Premier League’s relegation zone after finishing 14th in 2024-25.
At Burton, prior to kick-off, which was delayed due to issues with the net in front of the away end, a banner that read “SULLIVAN & BRADY OUT – NO MORE BS” flew over the ground. In the 14th minute, the away end held up posters with “No more BS” and another banner that read “Time to sell. Name your price. BS out,” while chanting for the board to be sacked.
The aerial protestMichael Regan/Getty Images
Hammers United, the supporters’ group that organized the flying banner, told The Athletic, “Today’s banner was a peaceful, dignified and legal act of protest organized by West Ham supporters who care deeply about the future of our football club. We broke no banner ‘rules’.
“The #NoMoreBS campaign is not about division, it’s about accountability. It’s about demanding transparent leadership, financial responsibility, fair treatment of supporters, and a clear long-term strategy for West Ham United.”
Previously, thousands of fans boycotted West Ham’s 2-0 home league defeat to Brentford in October. They also hosted a sit-in protest at the London Stadium after the 3-1 win over Newcastle United in November.
Hammers United added in their statement, “We love the team, we love the club’s history and traditions — and that’s precisely why we are standing up. West Ham deserves better governance, better communication, and better leadership. Until we see that, #NoMoreBS will continue.”
The first-half struggle and what Nuno changed
Burton manager Gary Bowyer followed the blueprint most teams in the lower divisions use to stifle Premier League oppositions.
The League One side focused on preventing easy passes out from the back, challenged their opponents physically and pressed at the right times. West Ham were suffocated when they passed back and were limited to lumping it long towards the flanks going forward, both of which played into Burton’s strengths.
Burton largely dominated Callum Wilson and Adama Traore, though the latter had a couple of bright moments. In possession, they targeted the left side of West Ham’s defence with long passes, even positioning seven of their players on the right wing from kick-off to challenge for goalkeeper Bradley Collins’ pass.
West Ham’s young defensive midfield pairing of Soungoutou Magassa and Mohamadou Kante, with 22-year-old debutant Keiber Lamadrid ahead of them, were closely marked out of possession and swarmed when they had the ball. Magassa and Kante received just 19 combined passes from their centre-backs in the first half, and only 14 of their 48 combined pass attempts were forward passes.
In the second half, Nuno shifted to a back four when West Ham had possession, pushing Scarles further up the pitch while Mayers shifted wider. That allowed one of Kante and Magassa to drop between Kostas Mavropanos and Max Kilman to invite pressure and the other to receive between the lines.
They could then quickly feed Traore or Wilson in behind or recycle possession in the attacking third. West Ham’s possession percentage remained in the high 60s throughout the game but their field tilt (share of touches in the final third) improved from 41 per cent in the first half to 51 in the second.
It led to more efforts on goal (16 across the final 75 minutes including extra time) and Burton retreated further and further, prompting frustrated instructions from Bowyer to his players to push up the pitch. Eventually, Summerville made them pay with a run from the wing to the edge of the six-yard box before curling in a deflected shot as three defenders attempted to close him down at the last second.
Freddie Potts’ strange red card
Bar a jubilant away end, Summerville’s goal deflated the Pirelli Stadium. By the 101st minute, they had found their voice again.
As Burton tiredly counter-attacked, Potts charged in on Larsson, sliding straight into his ankle. Potts’ tackle was not high, but it made for an ugly image as Larsson’s foot got trapped between Potts’ feet, leaving him writhing in pain.
As referee Lewis Smith approached the two players, he seemed to take a yellow card out of his pocket. Smith was instantly surrounded by four Burton players pointing to Larsson lying in pain to remonstrate that the offence was worthy of more.
He then blew his whistle to separate the crowd of players and looked at Larsson…
…before showing Potts a red card.
Burton had nine shots in the second half of extra time, having had 10 in the previous 105 minutes, while substitute Axel Disasi made one potentially goal-saving clearance at the death. But Alphonse Areola was forced into just one reasonably straightforward save as West Ham ensured their place in the hat for Monday’s fifth-round draw.
What did Summerville say?
“We know how difficult it would be to come here. We dug in deep, they put some pressure on us,” Summerville told TNT Sports after the match. “These were difficult conditions, the crowd was behind them as well. Luckily, we scored in extra time and got away with the win.
About his goal: “These games are going to be open, I just try to go inside and do what I do best.”
He added about his recent run of form, “I am in a good space lately after my injury, I’m happy to be back on the pitch and I try to show it week in, week out.”
On West Ham’s run of five wins in their last seven matches, Summerville said, “Every game matters. We have to keep the momentum, the positives and we go again next week.”
Liverpool are the frontrunners in a race with Manchester City and Arsenal to sign Newcastle United's former Everton winger Anthony Gordon, 24, but the England international will cost £95m. (Caughtoffside), external
The move comes as Mohamed Salah, 33, looks set to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, with the Saudi Pro League planning to push ahead with plans to land the Egyptian forward. (Teamtalk), external
Liverpool are also in another battle, this time with Manchester United, for Wolves' 18-year-old forward Mateus Mane this summer. The Portuguese-born England youth international is valued at £50m by his club. (Fichajes), external
Tottenham rebuffed enquiries from Aston Villa and Chelsea last month for their Sweden midfielder Lucas Bergvall, 20. (Athletic - subscription required), external
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is determined to sign France centre-back Castello Lukeba, 23, from RB Leipzig, with the German club prepared to sell him for £52.1m. (Sports Boom via Teamtalk), external
Arsenal are also scouting RB Leipzig's 20-year-old Norwegian winger Antonio Nusa, who is valued at between 50-60m euros (£43m-£52m). (Fussball Daten - in German), external
Aston Villa have lined up Manchester City's England goalkeeper James Trafford, 23, as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martinez should the 33-year-old Argentina number one leave this summer. (Football Insider), external
Manchester United scouts were at the San Siro on Saturday to watch Inter Milan's 28-year-old Italy left-back Federico Dimarco and France centre-back Pierre Kalulu, 25, of Juventus. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external
The "one dream" of Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, 25, is to play for Real Madrid, says the Hungary captain's national team coach Marco Rossi. (Marca - in Spanish), external
Enzo Maresca remains the leading candidate to replace Pep Guardiola when he eventually leaves Manchester City and has not held talks with Tottenham over their permanent manager's job following Thomas Frank's departure. (Fabrizio Romano)
Sky Paper Talk
PREMIER LEAGUE
Harry Maguire’s team-mates want Manchester United to offer him a new contract - The Sun
Chelsea and Aston Villa reportedly made surprise enquiries for Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall during the January transfer window - Daily Mail
The head coach of the Hungarian national team has claimed that Dominik Szoboszlai has always 'dreamed' of playing for Real Madrid amid fresh transfer speculation over the Liverpool midfielder - Sunday Mirror
West Ham fans staged a protest against the club’s ownership before and during the extra-time win over Burton Albion - Sunday Mirror
EFL
A multinational group led by Robbie Earle has made a bid for a minority stake in AFC Wimbledon, the south London-based club that was born in 2002 after Earle's former team Wimbledon FC moved to Milton Keynes - The Atheltic
SCOTTISH FOOTBALL
Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has gushed about his connection to Scotland amid links with the Celtic manager post - Mail on Sunday
Danilo has lifted the lid on the chaotic final days of the winter transfer window as he closed in on a move away from Ibrox - Scottish Sun
A Scottish football club has vowed to come down hard on one of its own fans for making an “abhorrent” comment towards their former manager - Scottish Sun
EUROPEAN FOOTBALL
Como manager Cesc Fabregas brutally suggested one of his big-name stars - Alvaro Morata - should stop playing football after his red card against Fiorentina - Daily Mail
WORLD CUP
World Cup group games for England and Scotland are under threat - because the stadium has yet to be granted a licence - The Sun
WINTER OLYMPICS
Vladyslav Heraskevych has been awarded the Ukraine order of freedom by president Volodymyr Zelensky following the skeleton racer's disqualification from the Winter Olympics - The Telegraph
The Canadian curler at the centre of a cheating row at the Winter Olympics has denied any wrongdoing, accusing the Swedish team of deliberately trying to "catch us in the act" - The Guardian
Guardian
Summerville strike earns 10-man West Ham extra-time FA Cup win at Burton
Crysencio Summerville’s deflected shot wins the game for West Ham. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters
Ben Fisher at the Pirelli Stadium
For West Ham’s second string, barring a shock defeat this could hardly have been a more uncomfortable ride. With the captain, Jarrod Bowen, among the clutch of regulars given a breather, it was Crysencio Summerville, a late substitute Nuno Espírito Santo would have rather kept fresh, who spared embarrassment at Burton Albion and helped them into the FA Cup fifth round. Four years ago at Kidderminster in this competition it was Declan Rice who came on to save their skin and it was a similar story here, Summerville’s extra-time strike ultimately preventing penalties.
West Ham squeezed through, Freddie Potts’s red card 11 minutes into extra time for crunching into Julian Larsson ensuring a nervy finale. A couple of nearly-moments may linger; in the final seconds, at which point these teams had been slogging it out for 133 minutes, the substitute Kain Adom saw an effort repelled by Alphonse Areola and Kegs Chauke, another sub, skittled the rebound into the side-netting to gasps.
In the first half the hosts had a penalty appeal waved away when the stand-in West Ham captain, Konstantinos Mavropanos, barged Jake Beesley in the box and in the second half of extra time the Burton striker failed to arrange his feet after reading an inviting cross.
For Gary Bowyer, Burton’s colourful head coach who was wearing boxing gloves when he greeted his squad in the dressing room, a nod to the sporting theme his team adopted through this Cup run, they almost landed a knockout blow. “It was some effort but we couldn’t quite capitalise in key moments – we had to make those count,” said Bowyer, frustrated at the manner of the winning goal. “We had shown the boys what he [Summerville] is capable of doing and he did exactly that.”
Filling his players with belief was Bowyer’s primary objective, empowering them to bridge the 47-place gap between the sides and register their names in history, reaching the last 16 of the competition for the first time. Burton made it to the Carabao Cup semi-finals under Nigel Clough seven years ago, when the goalkeeper Brad Collins, on loan then from Chelsea and now from Coventry, endured a draining night picking the ball out of his net as Manchester City killed the tie with a 9-0 first-leg victory. John Brayford, part of Bowyer’s coaching staff, was in defence that day.
There was a different energy to this game, however, and these opponents were devoid of quality until Nuno introduced Summerville and Valentin Castellanos on 82 minutes. Kick-off was delayed as a hole in Areola’s net was patched up in front of the visiting West Ham fans, who sang against the club’s chair, David Sullivan and vice-chair, Karren Brady. The message also rained down from a few thousand feet, a plane flying over the Pirelli Stadium trailing a banner against the hierarchy.
Tempers flare between Burton and West Ham after Freddie Potts’s red card. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA
West Ham treated the first half like an inconvenience, Mohamadou Kanté’s skied shot that easily cleared the West Stand terrace symptomatic of a dire display.
Mavropanos was the only survivor from the side that would have beaten Manchester United on Tuesday but for Benjamin Sesko’s 96th-minute equaliser and the debutant Keiber Lamadrid was among those who struggled. It was Adama Traoré, on his first start, who exhibited West Ham’s first flash of Premier League quality nine minutes into the second half, pressing pause and then speeding past Toby Sibbick before sending a dangerous ball into the six-yard box. The ball eluded Callum Wilson and just as Ollie Scarles attacked the cross, Kyran Lofthouse intervened to take it off his toes.
West Ham improved – albeit it was a low bar – against a side who will, like West Ham, reimmerse themselves in a relegation battle next week. Mavropanos soared high to direct a header at Collins and a few minutes later the Greece defender skewed wide. Wilson sent a first-time shot at goal from a tight angle but there was little evidence to suggest this game would finish in regular time.
Both teams struggled to create clear chances, prompting the in-form Summerville to take matters into his own hands four minutes into extra time. The winger darted inside from the left flank and drifted unopposed towards the edge of the box, dispatching a curled shot at goal that looped past Collins via a deflection.
Given the paucity of openings, that, surely, was that? Potts’s red card plunged West Ham into trouble, Jack Armer placing a shot wide before Burton threw bodies forward. Nuno called for Axel Disasi and Malick Diouf to see out the game. It was ugly but West Ham got the job done. “We achieved what we came here to do,” Nuno said.
The Athletic
Burton Albion 0-1 West Ham: A banner in the sky, Potts’ strange red card and another Summerville goal
Crysencio Summerville after scoring the only goal of the game against Burton Darren Staples/Getty Images
By Anantaajith Raghuraman
West Ham United huffed and puffed their way to a 1-0 extra-time win over Burton Albion on Saturday to move into the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, without captain Jarrod Bowen, who was rested for the trip, were outshot (two attempts to Burton’s seven) in the first half as the hosts’ physicality and discipline caused problems at both ends. West Ham grew into the second half, but it took a 95th-minute goal from substitute Crysencio Summerville — his sixth in seven matches — to break the deadlock.
Substitute Freddie Potts was then sent off in strange circumstances following a foul on Julian Larsson, leaving 10-man West Ham to defend a thin lead for over 20 minutes.
Burton created problems but the visitors held on, with Summerville even spurning a great chance to add a second late on.
The Athletic’s Anantaajith Raghuraman breaks down the key talking points from Staffordshire.
More fan protests… this time with a flying banner
West Ham fans have made their issues with the club’s ownership — particularly chairman David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karren Brady — clear over the course of a tumultuous season. They are in the Premier League’s relegation zone after finishing 14th in 2024-25.
At Burton, prior to kick-off, which was delayed due to issues with the net in front of the away end, a banner that read “SULLIVAN & BRADY OUT – NO MORE BS” flew over the ground. In the 14th minute, the away end held up posters with “No more BS” and another banner that read “Time to sell. Name your price. BS out,” while chanting for the board to be sacked.
The aerial protestMichael Regan/Getty Images
Hammers United, the supporters’ group that organized the flying banner, told The Athletic, “Today’s banner was a peaceful, dignified and legal act of protest organized by West Ham supporters who care deeply about the future of our football club. We broke no banner ‘rules’.
“The #NoMoreBS campaign is not about division, it’s about accountability. It’s about demanding transparent leadership, financial responsibility, fair treatment of supporters, and a clear long-term strategy for West Ham United.”
Previously, thousands of fans boycotted West Ham’s 2-0 home league defeat to Brentford in October. They also hosted a sit-in protest at the London Stadium after the 3-1 win over Newcastle United in November.
Hammers United added in their statement, “We love the team, we love the club’s history and traditions — and that’s precisely why we are standing up. West Ham deserves better governance, better communication, and better leadership. Until we see that, #NoMoreBS will continue.”
The first-half struggle and what Nuno changed
Burton manager Gary Bowyer followed the blueprint most teams in the lower divisions use to stifle Premier League oppositions.
The League One side focused on preventing easy passes out from the back, challenged their opponents physically and pressed at the right times. West Ham were suffocated when they passed back and were limited to lumping it long towards the flanks going forward, both of which played into Burton’s strengths.
Burton largely dominated Callum Wilson and Adama Traore, though the latter had a couple of bright moments. In possession, they targeted the left side of West Ham’s defence with long passes, even positioning seven of their players on the right wing from kick-off to challenge for goalkeeper Bradley Collins’ pass.
West Ham’s young defensive midfield pairing of Soungoutou Magassa and Mohamadou Kante, with 22-year-old debutant Keiber Lamadrid ahead of them, were closely marked out of possession and swarmed when they had the ball. Magassa and Kante received just 19 combined passes from their centre-backs in the first half, and only 14 of their 48 combined pass attempts were forward passes.
In the second half, Nuno shifted to a back four when West Ham had possession, pushing Scarles further up the pitch while Mayers shifted wider. That allowed one of Kante and Magassa to drop between Kostas Mavropanos and Max Kilman to invite pressure and the other to receive between the lines.
They could then quickly feed Traore or Wilson in behind or recycle possession in the attacking third. West Ham’s possession percentage remained in the high 60s throughout the game but their field tilt (share of touches in the final third) improved from 41 per cent in the first half to 51 in the second.
It led to more efforts on goal (16 across the final 75 minutes including extra time) and Burton retreated further and further, prompting frustrated instructions from Bowyer to his players to push up the pitch. Eventually, Summerville made them pay with a run from the wing to the edge of the six-yard box before curling in a deflected shot as three defenders attempted to close him down at the last second.
Freddie Potts’ strange red card
Bar a jubilant away end, Summerville’s goal deflated the Pirelli Stadium. By the 101st minute, they had found their voice again.
As Burton tiredly counter-attacked, Potts charged in on Larsson, sliding straight into his ankle. Potts’ tackle was not high, but it made for an ugly image as Larsson’s foot got trapped between Potts’ feet, leaving him writhing in pain.
As referee Lewis Smith approached the two players, he seemed to take a yellow card out of his pocket. Smith was instantly surrounded by four Burton players pointing to Larsson lying in pain to remonstrate that the offence was worthy of more.
He then blew his whistle to separate the crowd of players and looked at Larsson…
…before showing Potts a red card.
Burton had nine shots in the second half of extra time, having had 10 in the previous 105 minutes, while substitute Axel Disasi made one potentially goal-saving clearance at the death. But Alphonse Areola was forced into just one reasonably straightforward save as West Ham ensured their place in the hat for Monday’s fifth-round draw.
What did Summerville say?
“We know how difficult it would be to come here. We dug in deep, they put some pressure on us,” Summerville told TNT Sports after the match. “These were difficult conditions, the crowd was behind them as well. Luckily, we scored in extra time and got away with the win.
About his goal: “These games are going to be open, I just try to go inside and do what I do best.”
He added about his recent run of form, “I am in a good space lately after my injury, I’m happy to be back on the pitch and I try to show it week in, week out.”
On West Ham’s run of five wins in their last seven matches, Summerville said, “Every game matters. We have to keep the momentum, the positives and we go again next week.”