We’ve a stretch in the evening and there’s FA Cup replays on (English) terrestrial TV. How bad.
Manchester United take on West Ham in the last-ever FA Cup at the Boleyn Ground.
Can LVG again recover from a big setback — this time that hammering at Spurs — or will the Hammers keep their memorable season going?
How do you see this one playing out? We’re going live from 7pm.
Looking to kill some time before kick-off? This ‘How well do you know your Premier League medal winners’ quiz is a belter.
Here are your teams, then. Ireland’s No 1 is in goal for the hosts while Rooney is on the bench for United.
West Ham: Randolph, Antonio, Tomkins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Kouyate, Noble, Valencia, Lanzini, Payet, Carroll.
Subs: Adrian, Obiang, Collins, Moses, Emenike, Hendrie, Oxford.
Man Utd: De Gea, Fosu-Mensah, Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Fellaini, Carrick, Lingard, Ander Herrera, Martial, Rashford.
Subs: Depay, Mata, Rooney, Young, Romero, Valencia, Schneiderlin.
“Looking forward to seeing 2 great teams with attacking football going head to head……..oh wait wrong live blog,” writes Nigel Healy in the comments.
If you want Messi and co rather than this East End drama, the Barca-Atleti minute-by-minute is here.
West Ham have their first real sight of goal. Lanzini threads the ball between Fosu-Mensah and Fellaini down their left flank.
Kouyate seemed to have the ball under his feet with David De Gea looking a bit out of position but the West Ham man struck it tamely at the keeper.
West Ham have started brightly. United surely know not to give away free kicks but they’ve done just that twice already.
First Smalling was pinged and the French playmaker swung in a cross that caused some trouble in the box before it was worked away thanks to Martial.
And moments later Fosu-Mensah gave away another which Payet tried to curl inside the near post like Gary Mc in the Liverpool derby.
‘He’s just keeping the keeper honest,’ says Martin Keown.
Excellent save Darren Randolph! Fellaini took a first time shot from six yards or so which took a deflection off Ogbonna but the Ireland ‘keeper turned it around the post.
It’s been a lively opening 15 minutes with the home side having the better of the exchanges.
Slaven Bilic’s side look dangerous down the left with Lanzini particularly lively too when driving at the heart of the United defence.
Tompkins just took a Luas up the right flank without a United player around him and was allowed to loft a cross into Andy Carroll. The big striker knocked it down but there was no-one there to support him.
The away side have really looked sluggish so far, if you ask me.
Yellow card for Michael Carrick.
Dmitri Payet knocked the ball passed the midfielder and then ran into him. Carrick protests he couldn’t do anything about it and you’d have to agree.
The subsequent ball in causes some bother but Lanzini drills it over the bar.
Harsh.
Valencia gets in behind Blind, takes it first time but drags it across the goal and De Gea has no trouble gathering it in.
Another really impressive save from Randolph! Lingard was played through by Rashford, who did well, he took one touch and tried to drill it past the keeper. The Ireland man stayed upright for as long as possible however and saved well.
Really good stuff.
It’s raining heavily now and there’s a rainbow over the East End.
Couple of chances for United who are coming into this game.
The ball comes back to Ander Herrera on the edge of the box but takes a slight deflection as he’s winding up for a shot so instead he tees it up for Rashford who’s effort is blocked.
It works it’s way back out for Carrick and his shot goes just wide.
Fellaini and those elbows, eh?
The much-maligned Belgian challenged Andy Carroll under a dropping ball, leading with a Superman punch which knocked the ball away as he tussled with the West Ham target man. Free in, but it comes to nothing.
Marcos Rojo is booked in first half injury time after a silly foul. West Ham have one last chance to break the deadlock with Payet over the ball on the flank.
The free-kick is defended by United and as Herrera drives away with the ball Andy Carroll absolutely flies in to take out the Basque and earn himself a booking of his own.
Half-time: Goalless at the break. What did you make of that then?
We’re up and running again after an interval filled with Upton Park nostalgia from the likes of Trevor Brooking.
Some of the away fans thought that was in. Lingard flashed a solid shot wide of Randolph’s goal but it rattled the stanchion behind the goal.
Earlier, Fellaini received a big diagonal ball from Blind on his head, which may be a sign of things to come.
GOAL! Marcus Rashford, West Ham 0 Man Utd 1
What a goal! The teenager got the ball at the edge of the box, had James Tomkins going backwards and, after a little shimmy, curled a beauty past Darren Randolph.
Brilliant stuff.
The atmosphere was gone up a level since that opening goal and the home side have responded.
Payet went down in the box under a challenge from Blind but the ref was having none of it.
Expect more goals/a red card or too yet. Meanwhile, in Madrid it’s still scoreless.
Both Barca and Bayern have conceded, you guys.
Man Utd, meanwhile, are pressing for that second goal and are looking as good as they have all season really.
Antonio has looked good for the Hammers. He’s had another shot on goal there and it could well have flew past De Gea after it sat up well for him and was asking to be leathered.
GOAL! West Ham 0 Man Utd 2, Fellaini 67′
So, that Blind diag to Fellaini resulted in a goal, as we suspected it might.
The Belgian knocked it down and it ultimately came to Martial. The United drove it goalwards, it took a deflection and Fellaini was there again to knock it in with his knee or thigh. Not pretty but United are in control now.
Mark Noble has just carried Ander Herrera off the pitch.
The United midfielder hurt himself in a tackle with Antonio so he then fouled the West Ham man. He took his time getting off the pitch so the Upton Park favourite steamed in and lifted him off the field.
The subsequent free kick comes to nothing.
What a save! David de Gea somehow kept out a near post effort from Antonio after a Payet corner. It’s behind for another.
GOAL! West Ham 1 Man Utd 2, Tomkins 78′
This game isn’t over yet.
Payet whipped in the second corner, Carroll got on the end of it and Tomkins bravely headed home to absolutely lift the roof on the old ground. 10 minutes of normal time left.
This is why the most popular name in the Upton Park club shop is Noble for the past decade.
Carroll heads just over! It’s a great delivery from Cresswell, it’s an equally good header but it’s inches over the bar.
United are running down the clock in the West Ham half until the passing short circuits thanks to Fellaini. There’s a chance in it for West Ham yet.
Huge let off for United!
David de Gea makes two huge saves – first from Kouyate, then Carroll — and then the ball is sent behind.
Rooney’s on for Rashford, meanwhile.
It’s deflected behind for a corner and we’re two minutes into added time.
The corner is a huge waste.
Martin Keown awards Marcus Rashford his man-of-the-match award. Well deserved, Ger.
United are off to Wembley to face Everton and the curtain falls on the last FA Cup tie at the famous old Boleyn ground. What did you make of that?
FULL-TIME! West Ham 1 Man Utd 2
So that’s your lot from London after what was a really entertaining cup tie in the end.
Van Gaal again pulls a big result out of the bag and he may yet end his season — and his tenure at Old Trafford — with a trophy. It’s been a long time since the Old Trafford side picked up the FA Cup… but it’s Everton up next at Wembley.
Let us know what you made of all that.
It#s time to switch over to the Champions League and make another mug of tea.
Ireland will win the 6nations and I believe the French game will be Paul O’Connell’s finest 80mins in an Irish jersey. We have a great team, great support and sheer intensity to complete the campaign.
Simple answer. Yes.
Ireland to win coz we have better players and they are playing on form. Ireland also have better management. I cannot see France winning this one.
Joe needs to bring back in O’Gara at Fly half……
Because I dont know the names of any other players and I really want to live under a bridge with all the other trolls. Sure why dont we go full hog and bring back john hayes, marcus horan, mal o kelly and loads of other retired players and just go out there and f#$/$#g hammer the french.
What about David Humphries
Claw, Keith Wood, Mick Galway, foley, quinlan, Wallace, Stringer, Rob Henderson….. All them too…. Good man!
Ya definitely Humphries, Johnny Bell, Gary Longwell, Andy Ward & Kevin Maggs too just to be safe.
I don’t understand why one of Irelands all time greats has no place in this team. Willie John McBride.
Tony Ward too.
Andy Ward
Think it could be a low scoring cagey game. Sextons kicking will be vital. Take points when we can.
Wont happen I fear.
The squad ultimately has and has always had an underdog loser mentality. In the last 10 years we have totally failed at 3 world cups, lost at least 3 championships and lost 3 easily winnable games against the All Blacks.
Before the start of this 6 nations England and France had both only won 2 more games than us but they have won 4 and 5 championships compared to our puny 1. Not enough players have been capable of following POC and BOD to victory I’m afraid.
I certainly hope Joe Schmidt rids us of this loser mentality.
You’re the one with the loser mentality. I’d hate to have a team talk from you.
Maybe you could rid us of your loser mentality and not post.
@peter, I’m a great admirer of your wit. You’ll make something of yourself one day.
Sad retort Peter.
Don’t get your knickers in a twist there, Brian. I was replying to Small retort’s post.
Loser!
An easily winnable game against the all blacks? Ya must be confusing them with another team, no such thing. Even riddled with the flu last year england had to play out of there skins to beat them
Ireland usually see their best chance the year we have England & France in Dublin.My worry is that this side have yet to win a tight game, we failed to beat NZ when we had them on the ropes and we failed to drive on and beat England when we were 10 – 3 up in the second half.
We have the team to do it but actually going out and doing it is a different matter.
Scratch the surface and I fear the same inconsistent, underachieving, low-confidence team from the last 4 years will be there.. They need a good start and calm leadership, or else the self-doubt will return and the French will grow in confidence. They were frenetic and insecure in the first half in London. A 10min try-blitz from some unforeseen French bolters and history will repeat itself.
Even if they finish level on points with England should the cup not go to the English ad they beat us in London.
They’d have an advantage as they’ve two games against too 4 at home
The six nations has it’s own unique scoring system, no bonus points. Directly from the six nations website (http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/championship/rules.php)
The RBS 6 Nations Championship Trophy is presented to the team who earn the most points during the season, with 2 points being awarded for a win, and 1 point for a drawn match.
If two or more teams finish the Championship with the same number points, the winner is decided on match-points difference (subtracting match-points ‘against’ from match-points ‘for’ in all Championship matches). If there is still no winner, then it is awarded to the team who scored the most tries during the Championship.
If after all this a winner still cannot be decided then the Championship is shared between the teams.
England will have played 2 at home. Ireland 3 at home.
True but England will have played 2 of the big 4 at home (Ireland and Wales) whereas Ireland will have played 2 of the big 4 away.
England and Ireland are the only form teams and England got that game at home.
Sean Farrell myself and your old man here in Bahrain think you couldn’t be further from the truth
Steve Walsh owes us a few generous decisions against France, he screwed us over in 2007 when we couldve won the slam!
Based on Irelands performance this season in the 6 nations we are the form side going into the Paris game. But take into account the all blacks game during the November series which in my opinion was the best 60 minutes of rugby iv seen Ireland play in my lifetime then you would have to say that this irish side are the top northern hempishre side. Yes we lost to England at Twickenham but let’s call a spade a spade we were unlucky that day. Ireland deserve to win the championship and if the french stumble bod and the boys will punish
Not really sure about being unlucky in Twickenham. I don t think we did enough to won that game , or put another way, I don t think we found away to win the game.thought sextons second hald kinda cost us dearly though I think we ll beat france if johnny plays to the level that we know he can
Without being arrogant or cocky we should be quietly confident about winning this game.
We need a huge performance but the championship is in our hands.
Once the players focus on the job at hand and not get distracted by all the other stuff then we should be fine.
It’s important that we try and take the game to France and control the tempo and pace.
If we can build phases like we did against Italy then I can see the crowd and the French players getting frustrated.
Upfront we can hopefully get an edge as our pack seems like a tighter unit than there’s.
Will be fascinating to see what game plan Schmidt takes into this one as he has had a different plan for every game so far. We were good enough to draw with France on the last 2 occasions and with the way that this squad has developed there is no reason why we can’t go one better.
The harsh lessons learned against NZ and England should help this team to get over the line on this occasion.
Can’t wait :)