Hammers down Canaries

West Ham booked their FA Cup fourth round place with a 2-1 win at Norwich.

Hayden Mullins gave Alan Pardew's men an early lead with a fine sixth minute effort, and Bobby Zamora nodded in a second on 57 minutes to put the visitors in control.

Paul McVeigh pulled a goal back for the hosts from the penalty spot but Nigel Worthington's side could not find an equalising goal in the closing stages.

Norwich had left Dean Ashton out of the squad as his future looks to lie away from Carrow Road, and the home side fell behind after just six minutes.

Bobby Zamora did well down the left inside the box, and cut the ball back for Mullins who lashed a swerving shot past a statuesque Robert Green via his right hand post.

Shaka Hislop fumbled a cross soon after, but Dickson Etuhu could not control his effort and he looped the ball over the bar.

Marlon Harewood nearly doubled West Ham's advantage on 50 minutes as he arrived onto Matthew Etherington's cross from the left, but his side-footed shot from ten yards went just wide.

Harewood tried an acrobatic effort minutes later from Zamora's right wing cross, and he was desperately unlucky when his flying volley hit the outside of the post.

A second goal did come for The Hammers on 57 minutes when Green made a real mess of Etherington's cross from the left and, after he just managed to keep the ball out, Zamora stooped to head in from close range for 2-0.

Norwich had rarely threatened but they got a lifeline on 72 minutes when James Collins handled at the far post to hand the hosts a penalty.

Paul McVeigh stepped up and rifled home his spot kick past Hislop to give Norwich hope in the game with 18 minutes left to play.

The game was held up for some time late on when Green suffered a nasty knock on the head after a collision with Harewood, and he was worryingly carried off the pitch on a stretcher.

After the restart Norwich could not force an equaliser and West Ham held on to claim a place in the fourth round draw.