First, the good news for Sam Allardyce.
West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold once suffered a seven-goal humiliation at home in the FA Cup and didn’t fire their manager.
But what happened to Steve Bruce at Birmingham City against Liverpool eight years ago should not be taken as the norm by the man now caught in the centre of a perfect storm at Upton Park.
Hat-trick hero: Nottingham Forest's Jamie Paterson was the outstanding performer in a convincing victory
MATCH FACTS
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Darlow 7; Jara 6, Lascelles 7, Hobbs 7, Lichaj 6; (Harding 55min, 6) Moussi 6, Lansbury 6; Paterson 8, (Derbyshire 84) Reid 7, Abdoun 7; Halford 6 (Cox 75, 6).
Subs not used: Mackie, Miller, Evtimov, Majewski
Goals: Abdoun 12, Patterson 65, 71, 79, Reid 90
Booked: Derbyshire
West Ham (3-4-2-1): Adrian 7; Driver 5, Diarra 5 (Burke 55. 6), Potts 5; Jarvis 5, Lletget 6, Whitehead 5, Downing 4 (Turgott 64,5); Morrison 6, Moncur 5 (Fanimo 55, 5); Maiga 4.
Subs not used: Speigel, Lee, Maguire, Gordon-Hutton.
Booked: Lletget
Ref: Martin Atkinson 8
Man of the Match: Jamie Paterson
Att: 14,397
*Player ratings from Neil Moxley at City Ground
Click here for our Match Zone where you can access stats, heat maps and more
Certainly, a whirlwind engulfed him at
the City Ground on Sunday lunchtime when the elements combined to leave
West Ham’s boss desperately-seeking respite from an avalanche of
problems.
He travelled with a depleted squad that was low on
confidence after a heavy schedule and rushed headlong into enthusiastic
opponents with a point to prove who are on the back of an unbeaten
eight-game run. It proved a toxic mix.
By naming six players from
West Ham’s Under 21 side, having handed out five debuts by the final
whistle, he might have at least nodded in the direction of those among
his own support who feel the kids are all right.
The sad fact is that
they aren’t. Not on this evidence. For all the good work done in front
of goal by Forest’s Jamie Paterson, who claimed a 14-minute second-half
hat-trick, home boss Billy Davies was being truthful when he pointed out
the defeat could have been worse.
But for all the reasons,
explanations and simple excuses proffered by the visiting boss, this was
too much of a capitulation for the entire 90 minutes to be dismissed as
‘One bad day at the office’.
There was little know-how. That was fair
enough. But there was little enthusiasm, no discipline and no fight. In
fairness, it’s most unlike any team fielded by Allardyce not to at least
have a game-plan.
It was an example of their inexperience when George
Moncur’s sloppy 12th-minute challenge on Paterson led to the only
dissent in Forest’s ranks all afternoon over who should take the
penalty.
Djamal Abdoun grabbed the ball and wasn’t letting go.
Despite protests from Henri Lansbury. the Algerian international stuck
to his guns and shaped to smash the ball only to dink it down the
middle. It was a cheeky gesture.
‘We have nominated penalty-takers,’
joked Forest boss Billy Davies, ‘Djamal isn’t one of them. The fact he
scored has saved him.’
Classy performance: Nottingham Forest's Djamel Abdoun caught the eye as West Ham crashed out
Passion of the Cup: West Ham's Callum Driver (right) goes in hard on Nottingham Forest's Greg Halford
Aerial battle: Nottingham Forest's Guy Moussi and West Ham's George Moncur vie for possession
Here's the ground covered by Nottingham Forest's Andy Reid – now click here for your brilliant bumper match zone from the City Ground
West Ham had chances either side of the
interval. Forest keeper Karl Darlow tipped over Ravel Morrison’s
first-half free-kick. He also blocked from debutant Seb Lletget as the
hour approached. But those two chances were certainly outweighed by what
was produced at the other end.
The visitors’ defence looked to be an
accident-in-waiting all afternoon and Forest earned themselves a
cushion when Greg Halford outmuscled Reece Brown and Paterson picked up
the pieces, firing a second off the inside of the post.
Any hint of
discipline at that stage was abandoned. Morrison slipped into the mode
of not bothering to chase back and Forest ran riot.
Lansbury slipped
the ball inside to Paterson to grab his second, poking past Adrian who
was offered scant protection by a defence that never looked secure from
the first whistle.
Sent crashing: Few could argue when a penalty was given for George Moncur's (right) foul on Jamie Paterson
From the spot: West Ham goalkeeper Adrian was outwitted by Djamel Abdoun's confident penalty
Time to celebrate: Djamal Abdoun's audacious penalty led the way as Nottingham Forest beat West Ham
At this stage, there was still 20 minutes to go. Paterson, signed on a free transfer from Walsall last summer, saved his best until last.
Picking up the ball on the left of the area he feigned to shoot three times, Callum Driver, Reece Burke and Danny Potts all falling over themselves but failing to block as the Forest man drove into the bottom corner.
Andy Reid celebrated signing a new two-and-a-half year deal by rubbing Allardyce’s nose in it during stoppage time.
Davies was understandably in a chipper mood at the final whistle.
Doubling up: Nottingham Forest's Jamie Paterson scores the first of his goals to make the score 2-0
Making it count: Nottingham Forest's Jamaal Lascelles clears the ball under pressure from Modibo Maiga
‘Someone has been waiting to be hit for
four or five,’ he said. ‘We have created a host of chances. It could
have been more but I’m delighted with the goals we have scored.
‘As for Jamie, he’s a fantastic young talent. He has a lot to learn. He’s a fine young player.
‘He’s
single. He gets up to one or two tricks but he’s well-liked in the
dressing-room. We’ve pinned him down, put him into a nice flat. There’s
never a problem with the lad. But he’s a bit lairy and has a long way to
go.’
As for his opposite number, Davies had sympathy. But it was
qualified.
Bad day at the office: Things went from bad to worse for West Ham as the game progressed
All smiles: Sam Allardyce appears to remain confident in his ability to lead West Ham
Pressure growing: West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was already being scrutinised, before Sunday's defeat
‘We know Sam has bigger fish to fry,’ he said, ‘but I wish
I had £20million of front players. (Stewart) Downing, (Matt) Jarvis,
(Modibo) Maiga are very important. We were concerned before the game.’
Those doubts ended up being assuaged by his blossoming Forest side.
As
for Allardyce, perhaps it’s not such good news after all. His pal Bruce
was relegated with Birmingham after receiving only limited help during
the transfer window.
It will be interesting to see whether the lessons of history have been learnt.
Hard watch: West Ham's performance was too much for one young fan who made the trip to Nottingham
FA Cup memory: Nottingham Forest would not have expected to win in such convincing fashion
Game over: When Jamie Paterson made it 3-0 there was no way back for West Ham
Glee: And his third goal, Nottingham Forest's fourth, made an embarrassing scoreline even worse
Salt in the wound: Nottingham Forest captain Andy Reid added a fifth goal in added time
Bundle: Sunday's victory is among the best victories in recent years for Nottingham Forest
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