FA Cup: West Ham 0 West Brom 1 - Report and pictures

On Slaven Bilic's return to the London Stadium, the full-back netted in the ninth minute to grab what was a deserved win for the Championship pace-setters.

Albion dominated the first-half and arguably should have been further ahead at the break with Filip Krovinovic and Charlie Austin both going close.

They had to dig deep in the second half after Semi Ajayi was sent off in the 72nd minute after he picked up a second yellow card.

After that Pablo Zabaleta, Declan Rice and Mark Noble all went close for the hosts.

But, overall, Bilic's side thoroughly deserved to clinch a place in the next round with the Baggies comfortably the better team before Ajayi's dismissal.

Report

Prior to kick-off, Bilic expressed his desire to win at the London Stadium but also reiterated that gaining promotion to the Premier Leauge is the number one aim for Albion this season.

And that was reflected in his starting XI with the Croatian making eight changes from the side that lost against Stoke.

Nevertheless, the team was still packed with first-team players with Semi Ajayi, Ahmed Hegazi, Townsend and Matt Phillips all in from the off.

It meant the Baggies continued in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Charlie Austin the lone striker, Filip Krovinovic in the number 10 role and Kyle Edwards and Phillips on the wings.

West Ham, who lined up in a 4-4-2 system, also named a strong starting XI with Albian Ajeti and Sebastien Haller the front two.

It was the Baggies who flew out the blocks with Bilic's side testing Darren Randolph early on when Edwards hit a fierce low drive from 18-yards that the keeper did well to palm away.

But that was only a warning of what was about to come with Townsend then going on to open the scoring in the ninth minute.

After Krovinovic drove forward, the Baggies got a lucky break when the ball was then diverted into the path of the former Hull City full-back.

But from just inside the box he then rifled a shot that flew past the diving Randolph and into the corner of the net.

As the clock ticked towards the 20-minute mark, it was Albion who were asking all the questions with West Ham looking disjointed.

And they came close to doubling their advantage when Krovinovic met a cross from Townsend only to see his glancing header sail the wrong side of the post.

West Ham rallied somewhat with Gareth Barry doing well to nip in and clear a low cross from Aaron Cresswell after he had hit the byline.

Ahmed Hegazi then made a crunching - and perfectly timed - challenge on Haller to stop the striker racing through on goal after Semi Ajayi had inexplicably given the ball away.

Overall, though, it was Albion who were comfortably the better of the two teams.

And they came close to doubling their lead just before the break when O'Shea picked out Austin with a smart cross.

The striker was 12-yards out and still had a lot to do. But unmarked he headed wide when normally he would back himself to score.

With his team having gone off to boos at half-time, Moyes opted to make all three of his substitutions at half-time.

Michail Antonio, Mark Noble and Angelo Ogbonna came on for Pablo Fornals, Carlos Sanchez and Fabian Balbuena.

It was Albion, though, who continued to be the brighter of the two teams with the Baggies having two quick-fire chances to extend their lead.

First Krovinovic saw a low effort from 25-yards whistle past the post.

Austin then met a cross from Townsend only to send a header straight into the arms of Randolph.

Bilic made a change just past the hour mark with youngster Rayhaan Tulloch come on for Phillips - with the head coach presumably having one eye on Tuesday's trip to Cardiff.

West Ham then almost got themselves back on terms when Ajeti flicked a header inches wide after connecting with a Lanzini cross.

The hosts were now looking a lot more lively and their chances of grabbing an equaliser were boosted when Ajayi was sent off.

The Nigerian international picked up a second yellow card for a foul on the lively Ajeti.

In response, Bilic introduced Kyle Bartley for Krovinovic with the Baggies shifting to a 4-4-1 formation.

The Hammers, though, now had some momentum with Lanzini and Noble both seeing efforts from the edge of the box sail inches wide.

A man down, Albion had to dig deep but while they defended well, the hosts still had three good chances to grab an equaliser.

First Pablo Zabaleta headed over after meeting a Lanzini cross.

Rice then forced Jonathan Bond into a smart low stop with a drive from 20-yards.

Right at the end, though, the hosts should have got themselves back on terms.

Antonio's cross was blocked by a defender but then fell for Noble who was well placed around 10-yards from goal.

The West Ham skipper had the goal at his mercy. But he fired over to ensure it was Albion who clinched a place in the FA Cup fifth round.

West Ham: Randolph, Cresswell, Balbuena (Ogbonna 46), Zabaleta, Lanzini, Sanchez (Noble 46), Fornals (Antonio 46), Haller, Diop, Ajeti, Rice.

Subs not used: Martin, Noble, Cardoso, Ogbonna, Antonio, Kemp, Ngakia

Albion (4-2-3-1): Bond, O'Shea, Hegazi, Ajayi, Townsend, Brunt, Barry, Phillips (Tulloch 61), Krovinovic (Bartley 73), Edwards, Austin (Zohore 69).

Subs not used: Al Habsi, Livermore, Harper, Willock.