“It should have got us the win but credit to Manchester United”.
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Martial’s late goal means West Ham will now welcome United for a quarter-final replay – the last-ever cup match to be held at the Boleyn Ground before the summer move to the Olympic Stadium.
United and West Ham play to a 1-1 draw setting up a replay, with neither manager happy with some questionable calls. They did that against West Ham.
They also have a habit of shooting themselves in the foot, just like they did in the final 10 minutes against West Ham two weeks ago.
Speaking to West Ham TV, the 28-year-old said: “I think it is going to be an extraordinary match, the supporters want us to progress, they will be there and we will need them”. Obviously on this occasion it didn’t happen but we won’t pin the game on the one decision.
“We can’t afford any slip-ups on Thursday”.
Smalling admits the mood was sombre following the defeat at Anfield in the first leg. “Now it is a new Wembley, I’ve just arrived in England, and to get there is exciting”.
“We talk a lot about starting games strong and more often than not we’ve done that this season”.
“Maybe we should have scored more with the chances we had, but nobody scores all the time”.
There were two moments of controversy in the game – first was when Payet was denied a penalty after he was fouled by Marcos Rojo in the box, secondly was Bastian Schweinsteiger blocking the West Ham goalkeeper in the build-up t Martial’s equaliser.
Louis van Gaal was proud of his players for keeping Manchester United’s FA Cup dreams alive at the end of a “very nasty week”.
Aside from an early Jesse Lingard strike wide, the Hammers dominated much of the play and the returning Andy Carroll and Payet had shots either side of Emenike going close.
“I’ve heard there was no contact and, to be fair, it should have been another yellow card”, he said.
Arsenal will now host West Brom on Thursday, April 21 – with the game again featured on Sky Sports – while another TV match will be Manchester City’s trip to Newcastle on Tuesday, April 19.
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“I have seen the video, of course, and I think Schweinsteiger gets a push from a defender so he did not do it deliberately”, van Gaal said.
