West Ham United edged past Queens Park Rangers after extra time to reach the FA Cup fourth round, securing a rare moment of relief for manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The Hammers needed a late header from Taty Castellanos to seal a 2-1 win, ending a 64-day wait for victory despite being pushed hard by Championship opposition.
The match underlined West Ham’s ongoing struggles, with QPR forcing extra time and briefly threatening an upset through Richard Kone’s second-half equaliser. Yet there were positives for Nuno, particularly the performances of Castellanos and Crysencio Summerville, who scored once and provided the decisive assist. The atmosphere at the London Stadium remained tense, with fan protests continuing despite reduced ticket prices boosting attendance. QPR manager Julien Stéphan praised his side for pushing a Premier League team to the limit. For West Ham, the Cup win offered temporary respite, but concerns about form, recruitment and looming relegation fears remain firmly unresolved.
