West Ham United edged past Queens Park Rangers after extra time in the FA Cup, easing pressure on manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The Hammers were taken the distance by Championship opposition, underlining ongoing concerns despite securing a first win since November.
January signing Taty Castellanos proved decisive, heading home the winner after an encouraging display that hinted at a solution to West Ham’s long-standing striker problem. Crysencio Summerville also impressed, scoring before half-time and supplying the assist for Castellanos’s goal. QPR forced extra time through Richard Kone after Karamoko Dembélé’s fine build-up play.
While the victory briefly lifted the mood inside the London Stadium, fan unrest and defensive frailties persisted. Nuno welcomed the psychological boost but admitted further reinforcements are needed. West Ham progress to the next round, though their performance suggested tougher tests lie ahead both in the cup and the league.
