West Ham 1 Shrewsbury 0 AET - Report and pictures

It took David Moyes’ top-flight men more than 200 minutes to down Paul Hurst’s high-flying Shrews, who made the Town proud with their resilient fight.

But youngster Reece Burke fired in off the crossbar seven minutes before penalties were required to end the dreams of 3,000 travelling Salopians, writes Lewis Cox at London Stadium.

The largest away following since 5,000 were at Arsenal in 2011 passionately applauded their side as a show of appreciation of energy and desire.

Town’s desire was bordering on unbelievable as they continued to repel the hosts until Burke’s 113th-minute winner.

Hurst’s men could have won it in normal time had Stefan Payne slotted away a glorious opening.

The boss sprung a surprise formation with three changes at the former Olympic Stadium: Joe Riley, Max Lowe and Stefan Payne were all drafted in from the off while Town shifted from their usual 4-1-4-1 to 5-3-2.

Mat Sadler, Toto Nsiala and Omar Beckles formed part of a central back three, while Riley and Max Lowe were right and left wing-backs.

The system matched up with the hosts, who also played with a three-man defence and advanced wing-backs. David Moyes’ side included three changes from the side that struggled to a goalless draw at Montgomery Waters Meadow.

Shrewsbury star Joe Hart was again named skipper and the notable outfield inclusion was that of Manuel Lanzini, who had scored twice as his side downed Huddersfield in the Premier League last weekend.

It was his twinkling toes in the early exchanges that had Dean Henderson watching one over in the visiting goal. An early example of the Argentinian’s ability.

The opening 15 or 20 minutes passed without threat to the Town goal and as the evening progressed, backed by their vocal sell-out following, Town grew in confidence and poise.

Midfield duo Abu Ogogo and Ben Godfrey - the latter who shone so brightly in the broadcasted first tie - snapped at the heels of their top-flight counterparts and the hosts were all too often sloppy in possession.

Payne was troubling the inexperienced Hammers backline. Youngsters Reece Oxford and Reece Burke looked to have a lapse in concentration in them as Town pressed forward and chased their shadows.

Lanzini, unsurprisingly, looked the only one that might spark Moyes’ men into life and his fierce 30 yard free-kick stung the palms of Henderson in the first period’s only shot on goal.

Hurst and Chris Doig, cutting animated figures in the spacious technical area some way from their seated dugout, would have been satisfied with how comfortable his side were against the Irons, whose form of five games unbeaten had helped them to 11th in the top flight.

Referee Jeremy Simpson became a central figure shortly after the break. First he waved away Shrewsbury claims for a spot-kick as Payne was brushed down to the ground under pressure.

As things became more stretched, making for a better spectacle, Lanzini dropped to the ground on Town’s byline but Nsiala was adjudged to have made an inch-perfect challenge.

But as the talented Arthur Masuaku and Lanzini both sent efforts miles over Henderson’s crossbar, the end product was still lacking.

Then arrived what looked like ‘the’ Shrewsbury moment after the hour. Nolan’s fine challenge sent Payne scampering clear through on Hart’s goal.

The forward burst into the box, took his time, a touch to open his body up, but Hart stood strong and made the save.

The visitors’ heads did not drop. Shaun Whalley flashed past a couple and smacked one over the top from an angle.

Moyes then rolled the dice to send on Marko Arnautovic and Mark Noble as Town fans took an intake of breath.

Hurst shuffled his pack by sending on Louis Dodds and Alex Rodman for some fresh legs on the large, energy-sapping surface.

It was looking increasingly likely that 90 minutes would not be enough to separate the sides.

Toni Martinez did nothing to quash those thoughts as he fired wastefully wide over the angle. But as the 90th minute came into view, Town got edgy and Arnautovic cranked through the gears, finding the side netting and lashing just wide.

Shrews fans responded in boisterous style to will their side over the line and Nsiala threatened to write his name in folklore by heading narrowly over the top in the third minute of added time.

The game was balanced on a perfect knife-edge going into the extra 30 minutes.

Tired legs made for a more open style but brave Shrewsbury were giving everything, somehow finding a second wind.

Godfrey was perfectly placed to head off the line from Noble before Town sub Alex Rodman could not find a team-mate from some promising positions.

Town’s spirit was phenomenal. Extra time sub James Bolton got involved. It seemed like the defining moment as Lanzini squirmed this way and that in the box deceiving four diving Town bodies, before Bolton somehow cleared off the line. Miraculous.

But with seven minutes to play the hosts broke blue and amber hearts as Burke hammered in off the crossbar to seal victory.

Teams

West Ham United (5-3-2):

Hart (c); Byram (Zabaleta, 90), Oxford (Noble, 70), Ogbonna, Burke, Masuaku; Obiang, Cullen, Lanzini; Ayew (Arnautovic, 70), Martinez

Subs not used: Adrian (gk), Haksabanovic, Samuelsen, Makasi

Shrewsbury Town (5-3-2):

Henderson; Riley (Dodds, 74), Nsiala, Sadler, Beckles, Lowe (Bolton, 101); Ogogo (c), Godfrey, Nolan; Whalley (Rodman, 79), Payne (C Morris, 84)

Subs not used: MacGillivray (gk), John-Lewis, B Morris.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson

Attendance: 39,867 (3,000 Shrewsbury fans)