EFL Cup
CheltenhamCheltenham Town0West HamWest Ham United2

Cheltenham Town 0-2 West Ham United

By Tom GarryBBC Sport at LCI Rail Stadium
Andre Ayew scores for West Ham
Andre Ayew scored West Ham's second goal in quick succession to give West Ham victory over Cheltenham

West Ham earned their first win of the season as they saw off Cheltenham Town in the EFL Cup second round.

After the League Two side's bright start, two quick goals from Diafra Sakho and Andre Ayew gave the Premier League side control before half-time.

Sakho slotted in his first goal since November from Sam Byram's pass, before Ayew tucked into the same bottom corner moments later.

The hosts went close via Harry Pell's volley and Jordon Forster's header.

James Collins and Byram both could have added further goals for the visitors, who made seven changes following top-flight losses at Manchester United and Southampton.

The best moment for Cheltenham, who were unchanged from Saturday's 3-0 league defeat by Carlisle, came with Pell's low volley across goal, but onrushing substitute Dan Holman could not quite get the required touch as he slid in at the far post.

The two sides' only previous meeting came at the same stage of this competition four years ago, resulting in a narrow 2-1 win for Hammers at their old home Upton Park.

The fourth-tier side performed respectfully again on Wednesday, but did not sufficiently test Hammers goalkeeper Adrian.

Slaven Bilic's side could have won by a greater margin, but Robins captain Kyle Storer cleared Angelo Ogbonna's fierce header off the line in the first half and, moments later, keeper Jonathan Flatt did well to stop Sakho turning in Ayew's low cross.

Cheltenham's exit ended League Two's representation in the EFL Cup before Thursday's third-round draw.

Line-ups

Cheltenham

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1Flatt
  • 23Forster
  • 2Grimes
  • 15BoyleSubstituted forDawsonat 45'minutes
  • 3Cranston
  • 7Pell
  • 4Storer
  • 6Atangana
  • 11Winchester
  • 9WrightSubstituted forGrahamat 64'minutes
  • 20EisaSubstituted forHolmanat 71'minutes

Substitutes

  • 8Dawson
  • 10Holman
  • 14O'Shaughnessy
  • 18Bower
  • 19Thomas
  • 21Graham
  • 22Lovett

West Ham

Formation 4-3-3

  • 13Adrián
  • 22Byram
  • 19Collins
  • 21Ogbonna
  • 26Masuaku
  • 14Obiang
  • 41Rice
  • 16NobleSubstituted forKouyatéat 73'minutes
  • 31FernandesSubstituted forQuinaat 88'minutes
  • 15SakhoSubstituted forHernándezat 64'minutes
  • 20A Ayew

Substitutes

  • 3Cresswell
  • 4José Fonte
  • 8Kouyaté
  • 17Hernández
  • 23Haksabanovic
  • 25Hart
  • 36Quina
Referee:
Oliver Langford
Attendance:
6,259

Match Stats

Home TeamCheltenhamAway TeamWest Ham
Possession
Home34%
Away66%
Shots
Home7
Away12
Shots on Target
Home2
Away4
Corners
Home4
Away9
Fouls
Home14
Away5

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Cheltenham Town 0, West Ham United 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Cheltenham Town 0, West Ham United 2.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Sam Byram (West Ham United).

  4. Post update

    Kevin Dawson (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Cheikhou Kouyaté (West Ham United).

  6. Post update

    Harry Pell (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  7. Substitution

    Substitution, West Ham United. Domingos Quina replaces Edimilson Fernandes.

  8. Post update

    Attempt missed. Jordon Forster (Cheltenham Town) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Kyle Storer with a cross following a corner.

  9. Post update

    Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Sam Byram.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Pedro Obiang (West Ham United) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Chicharito with a cross following a corner.

  11. Post update

    Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Jordon Forster.

  12. Post update

    Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Nigel Atangana (Cheltenham Town).

  14. Post update

    Chicharito (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Carl Winchester (Cheltenham Town).

  16. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  17. Post update

    Delay in match Pedro Obiang (West Ham United) because of an injury.

  18. Post update

    Pedro Obiang (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Kyle Storer (Cheltenham Town).

  20. Post update

    Offside, Cheltenham Town. Jamie Grimes tries a through ball, but Brian Graham is caught offside.

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