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West Ham United's Diafra Sakho (right) celebrates scoring with teammate Carl Jenkinson. Stephen Pond

Sakho heads Hammers into the last 16 while Aston Villa push past Bournemouth

Paul Lambert’s side scored twice in a game for only the third time this season.

WEST HAM AND ASTON VILLA restored order by winning through to the last 16 of the FA Cup on Sunday as they avoided becoming the latest Premier League clubs to be knocked out by lower league opposition.

Both sides kicked-off with English football still reeling from a sensational Saturday that saw Premier League leaders Chelsea beaten 4-2 by third-tier Bradford City at Stamford Bridge, while Manchester City lost 2-0 at home to Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough.

But Diafra Sakho’s header nine minutes from time was good enough to see West Ham to a 1-0 win away to third-tier Bristol City, for whom striker Matt Smith went close on several occasions.

“I knew it was going to be a tough game and it was exactly that,” West Ham manager Sam Allardyce told the BBC.

“Bearing in mind what has happened this weekend, it is a big result for us.”

Soccer - FA Cup - Fourth Round - Aston Villa v AFC Bournemouth - Villa Park Carles Gil celebrates after putting Aston Villa in front against Championship leaders Bournemouth. Nigel French / EMPICS Sport Nigel French / EMPICS Sport / EMPICS Sport

Meanwhile second-half goals from Carles Gil and Andreas Weimann secured a 2-1 victory for Villa at home to Bournemouth, the leaders of the second-tier Championship.

Spanish winger Gil put the hosts ahead in the 53rd minute at Villa Park with a stunning first goal in English football.

He received the ball out wide on the right, cut inside the full-back and lofted the curling effort into the top corner from at least 25 yards out.

Villa have been struggling for goals this season but Weimann scored the Birmingham club’s second 19 minutes from time.

Leandro Bacuna found Alan Hutton on the right, and his clipped ball was turned in, left-footed, by Weimann.

Callum Wilson pulled a goal back for the Cherries in the 90th minute and the south coast club nearly had an equaliser in stoppage-time when Ashley Westwood’s low shot was well-saved by Lee Camp.

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AFP
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