It is a competition famous for shocks -- but the end of West Ham's FA Cup hopes was simply shocking.

Earlier failures this season have at least had the compensation of some determination, but yesterday's defeat was just pathetic.

Only a few players -- Joe Cole, the hopelessly under-served Jermain Defoe, and the sporadically menacing Lee Bowyer -- could take any credit.

A brief flurry towards the United goal as half-time neared and a late shout for a penalty as Bowyer was brought down in the box could not disguise the overwhelming inadequacy of Hammers' non-contribution.

Substitions offered more bafflement than relief -- with the game effectively over on the hour mark, why not allow Don Hutchison a 30-minute run-out to ease him back to full fitness? Why re-introduce Christian Dailly at all?

Only the late arrival of Richard Garcia, who astonished everyone by getting to the byline and making a cross, offered even the most miniscule glimmer of light.

This game was ended as a contest inside 10 minutes, when Manchester United took the lead through Ryan Giggs.

Breen was skinned by Ruud van Nistelrooy, and after Paul Scholes saw his shot blocked, Giggs fired home the loose ball.

It was 2-0 after 30 minutes as the Reds swept up field with some fluent passing and Juan Sebastian Veron invited Giggs to shoot home from the edge of the box, with a deflection from Breen.

The second half was a disaster. On 49 minutes van Nistelrooy scored after some neat skills on the edge of the box.

Then a minute later Phil Neville -- that most prolific of tormentors -- made it 4-0 after slicing through the defence.

David Beckham created the fifth for van Nistelrooy, profitting on confusion between David James and, inevitably, Breen.

And the Dutchman set up the final goal for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Published Monday, January 27, 2003

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