FA Cup: Shrewsbury Town 0 West Ham 0 - report and pictures

The League One high-flies dominated for large parts against the top flight side 31 positions their superior, but were unable to find a way through the returning Joe Hart.

Iron boss David Moyes avoided another unwanted cup upset at his former club as the visitors clutched on to their clean sheet at a packed and rocking Meadow.

That was mainly thanks to the first-half heroics of Hart, the Shrewsbury-born England international, who made two fine stops.

Superb Shrewsbury showed the ability, guts, energy and belief that has them mixing it at the top of the third tier, writes Lewis Cox at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

West Ham, full of Premier League stars, had no answer for Shrewsbury’s energy.

Hart superbly denied Mat Sadler in the first period before keeping out Alex Rodman as the home side applied all the pressure.

The second-half was more even but Shrews were still the most likely, with Jon Nolan blazing over at the death.

The home side were given a pre-game boost as first choice goalkeeper Dean Henderson started in the competition for the first time this season.

Previously not permitted by parent club Manchester United, Shrewsbury’s manager sought permission from the Old Trafford club and it was granted.

That news was warmly welcomed by the sell-out Meadow crowd. The full capacity helped create a fine atmosphere ahead of kick-off.

Carlton Morris was given the nod to start in the line front role. Hurst opted to leave top scorer Payne on the bench for the Norwich loanee, who has impressed in recent weeks.

New loan signing Max Lowe was on the bench for Town.

Official Paul Tierney was involved in his first Shrewsbury game since the famous 3-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday.

The Irons paid plenty of respect to their hosts with an experienced line-up.

Hart, with the captain’s armband, went in goal, with Winston Reid, Cheikhou Kouyate, Javier Hernandez, Andre Ayew and Angelo Ogbonna all included from the off.

Moyes’ line-up included four changes. He opted for a three-man defence with wing-backs.

A crackling atmosphere greeted kick-off. Hart received a fine reception, as did all players in blue and amber.

Memories of the famous Gay Meadow victory over Moyes’ Everton flooded back in the days ahead of the tie, similarly with runs to the sixth round in 1979 and 1982.

Town used the atmosphere and stormed into their high-profile opponents. Their typical high-energy midfield unsettled West Ham.

The Irons played some neat stuff in trying to bypass waves of Town bodies but created nothing inside 20 minutes.

Morris tirelessly battled for headers, letting the West Ham defence know he was there. While midfield battler Ben Godfrey was everywhere. It was the delivery of Shaun Whalley that had the visitors most unnerved.

First of all Reid was at his best to clear behind his own goal before Godfrey and James Bolton were somehow unable to find the telling touch while unmarked at the back post.

Hart, wearing a cap to shield the Shropshire sun handed to him by an away fan, smothered it well.

Town were growing further into the cup tie and West Ham were struggling to compete with the hosts energy or drive.

Omar Beckles fired a spectacular volley narrowly over before Hart was really tested.

Ten minutes before the break, and after being treated for a blooded head, went on a Franz Beckenbauer style burst and found himself staring down the whites of Hart’s eyes. The defender fired a low effort that was superbly stopped by the returning Salopian.

Belief shot through the roof and Hurst’s men had the Irons camped in their own box. Rodman was next to go close as his strike was beaten away.

Half-time could not come quickly enough for Moyes’ men. The Irons could not get near the home side, who were showing the same courageous style that has then in the automatic League One promotion spots. It was far and away from the anticlimax of the display against Manchester United a few years ago.

Town brought the same impetus, the same intensity and drive out for the second period and, even though at a man disadvantage with Sadler receiving stitches, dictated the play.

Moyes’ men were not doing nearly enough to carve open their hosts. The Premier League stars had not shown nearly the required energy levels.

But the home side were not forcing Hart into any second-half stops. There was plenty of optimism as they built attacks, but the end product was evading them.

The atmosphere cranked back up as Ogogo burst into the box on his weaker left side but could not pick the decisive pass inside the box, More forward runs followed from Whalley and Nolan. The crowd responded.

Pedro Obiang’s tame shot across goal with 10 minutes to play was about as much as the Iron offered as an attacking force.

Town fans were pleading for one more chance and Nolan was the man it fell too. A Whalley free-kick was recycled by Lowe, on for his debut as sub, at the byline, and the left-sided man pulled back for the unmarked Nolan eight yards out.

The midfielder’s composure was found wanting as he blazed over the top. With it went a famous scalp.

But Shrewsbury, the dominant side, have the chance to do it all again in the capital a week on Tuesday.

Shrewsbury Town (4-1-4-1): MacGillivray, Bolton, Nsiala, Sadler, Beckles; Godfrey; Whalley (Gnahoua, 87), Ogogo ©, Nolan, Rodman (Lowe, 76); C Morris (Payne, 82)

Subs not used: Henderson (gk), Riley, B Morris, John-Lewis

West Ham United (3-5-2): Hart ©; Rice, Reid (Quina, 86), Cullen; Burke, Ogbonna; Obiang, Kouyate, Masuaku; Ayew, Hernandez (Martinez, 71)

Subs not used: Adrian (gk), Haksabanovic, Samuelsen, Neufville, Maksai

Referee: Paul Tierney

Attendance: 9,535 (1,541 West Ham fans)