Lincoln 0-1 West Ham: Tomas Soucek strike sees Hammers to narrow Carabao Cup win

Match report and free match highlights as Tomas Soucek's 70th-minute strike saw West Ham to victory in the Carabao Cup third round; Lincoln had a number of good chances in the first half but could not capitalise; West Ham face Arsenal at home in the fourth round

Highlights of the Carabao Cup third round tie between Lincoln City and West Ham United

Tomas Soucek’s second-half goal ensured West Ham overcame a tough test in the Carabao Cup third round at Lincoln with a 1-0 victory.

This was nothing other than 'job done' for the Hammers as Soucek's 70th-minute strike from a corner booked their place in the next round, where they face a home tie against Arsenal.

Boss David Moyes made a host of changes to his side but Soucek was one of his Premier League starters who was involved and that proved vital while goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski also made a number of good saves.

League One Lincoln, who were winners at Sheffield United in the last round, gave them a scare and should have led in the first half but they could not produce another upset.

Fourth-round draw

Ties to be played w/c October 30
Mansfield vs Port Vale
Ipswich vs Fulham
Man Utd vs Newcastle
Bournemouth vs Liverpool
Chelsea vs Blackburn
West Ham vs Arsenal
Everton vs Burnley
Exeter vs Middlesbrough

This home tie for the Imps was a reward for that penalty shootout victory at Bramall Lane in August and they had designs on a second shock.

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They had to survive a scare in the opening 20 minutes as defender Sean Roughan slipped at the vital moment when receiving a pass, allowing Max Cornet to burst forward.

Image: Tomas Soucek scored the winning goal in the second half for West Ham in the Carabao Cup

However, goalkeeper Lukas Jensen got out well to smother efforts from Danny Ings and Said Benrahma.

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From that point, the Imps began to cause their visitors some problems, with Reeco Hackett firing a fierce shot from distance straight at Fabianski.

They thought they had taken the lead in the 26th minute as Alex Mitchell turned in Ali Smith's cross at the far post but he was offside.

Lincoln kept going and should have gone in front just before half-time.

Image: Lincoln City had a number of chances in the first half against Premier League West Ham

A nice move saw Smith in space on the left and he sent in a perfect cross for Hackett to produce a powerful header that seemed destined to ripple the net but Fabianski somehow palmed it away with a flying stop.

A storm blew through Sincil Bank in the opening 15 minutes of the second half and with the wind at their tails, Lincoln penned West Ham in and they would have fancied their chances of creating something with their direct approach.

But the quality was lacking and as the wind died down, so too did the Imps' threat.

The Hammers began to take control, though were hardly banging the door down and needed a set-piece to go in front.

Image: Lukasz Fabianski made a string of saves against Lincoln in the Carabao Cup

Benrahma whipped in a low corner from the left and Soucek prodded home at the near post.

They almost made it 2-0 shortly after as Ben Johnson let fly with 30-yard shot that crashed into the post.

Lincoln went for it in the final 15 minutes in a bid to force penalties and Dylan Duffy tested Fabianksi with a stinging shot from distance, which the keeper met with a full-length save.

West Ham were able to see it out to make it through to the fourth round for the fourth successive year.

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