West Ham crash out of FA Cup as Slaven Bilic leads 10-man West Brom to victory on return to east London
Slaven Bilic enjoyed a winning return to east London as his West Brom side sent West Ham crashing out of the FA Cup in their fourth round clash.
Conor Townsend's wonderful strike early on was the only goal of the game as David Moyes' side laboured in front of a frustrated home crowd.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men with 20 minutes of the contest remaining when Semi Ajeyi was shown a second yellow card.
But still West Ham could find no way through as they fell to a third defeat in four games.
The Hammers contributed to their own downfall when West Brom took the lead after just nine minutes.
Carlos Sanchez and Issa Diop both hesitated in the box before the former cannoned his clearance into his teammate.
The ball bounced out to Townsend on the edge of the box, who took a touch before arrowing a clean strike across goal and into the far corner of the net.
Charlie Austin had wonderful chances to extend his side's lead either side of half-time, heading wide and straight into the path of Darren Randolph.
Sebastien Haller had perhaps West Ham's best chance to draw level - fed through by Albian Ajeti who looked bright on his first start since September - but dragged a tame effort wide.
Ajeti was unlucky not to get his improvised header on target and was involved again on 70 minutes as the away side were reduced to 10 men - Ajeyi shown a second yellow card for clipping the ankles of the Swiss as he raced towards goal.
West Ham couldn't take advantage however - with Mark Noble wasting the best of a host of late chances, blazing over the bar from 10 yards out.
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