West Ham United 2-0 Crewe Alexandra – Match Report

West Ham booked their place in the third round of the Capital One Cup with this straight forward 2-0 win over Crewe at Upton Park.

Nicky Maynard put the hosts in front against his former club when he smashed home with a half-volley from a Ricardo Vaz Te cross.

Modibo Maiga double the Hammers’ lead ten minutes into the second-half, pouncing quickly when Kevin Nolan’s initial shot was parried away by Crewe keeper Martin.

The tie gave Sam Allardyce the chance to give some of his bench players and youngsters a chance to stake their claim in the first team and he made ten changes to the side that lost 3-0 at Swansea on Saturday.

Captain Kevin Nolan was the only player who kept hold of his starting place, while first starts were handed to Stephen Henderson, Alou Diara and Modibo Maiga.

Academy graduates Jordan Spence and Danny Potts were also handed starts, while Matthias Fanimo, George Moncur and Robert Hall all impressed off the bench.

The third round draw takes place on Thursday.

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West Ham United

Starting XI: Henderson; O’Brien, Spence, Diarra, Potts; O’Neil, Nolan (84), Taylor (60); Maynard, Maiga, Vaz Te (73)

Subs: Speiegel, Demel, Fanimo (60), Driver, Moncur (84), McCallum, Hall (73)

Goals: Maynard (34), Maiga (55)

Yellow Cards: Spence

Crewe Alexandra

Starting XI: Martin; Mellor, Davis, Ellis (73), Bunn (62); Murphy, Westwood, Moore, Robertson; Clayton, Leitch-Smith (80)

Subs: Garratt, Ray, Dugdale (73), Turton (80), Guthrie, Daniels, Osman (62)

Yellow Cards: Mellor

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Referee: Fred Graham

Attendance: 18,053

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