Ashton Double Sinks City
A double strike from Dean Ashton fired West Ham to a 2-1 victory and into the semi-finals of the FA Cup at the expense of 10-man Manchester City.
Ashton opened his account in the first half when he lashed home a shot past keeper David James from iside the box.
City’s Sun Jihai was sent off for raising his arm to Matthew Ethrinton, before Ashton added his second in rather strange circumstances.
Christian Dailly had been lying injured by the touchline for at least two minutes when Yossi Benayoun dispossesed a clearly confused Musampa to set up Ashton.
“Both myself and Alan Pardew were trying to get the game stopped,” said City manager Stuart Pearce.
“I don’t think the players were aware of what had happened. There was a buzz around the ground and when Kiki Musampa got it, he didn’t really know what to do.”
“Their lad whipped it off him and from then on, Christian Dailly wasn’t really their priority.”
Two-goal hero Dean Ashton - an £8m January signing from Norwich City - says he cannot wait for the semi-final: “It will be a fantastic occasion and our fans will travel in their thousands.”
“Obviously this is a really hard place to come to and they threw everything at us, so we’re delighted to win.”
Kiki Musampa scored for the Hammers with a thundering volley in the 85th minute but it was too little, too late.
