Ashton spares Hammers' blushes

Dean Ashton found his scoring boots in stoppage-time as West Ham squeezed past Plymouth.

Late strike lifts Hammers past Argyle

Dean Ashton found his scoring boots in stoppage-time as West Ham squeezed past Plymouth and into the fourth round of the Carling Cup. Championship side Argyle held out for 91 minutes in the face of almost constant pressure at Upton Park.

But England hopeful Ashton, who swapped his white boots for a bright red pair at half-time, struck with a superb volley for his third goal since recovering from a broken ankle.

The outcome was harsh on Argyle, though, who had their moments with Barry Hayles, Peter Halmosi and Akos Buzsaky all giving the Hammers' rearguard some sticky moments.

Scott Parker's first touch in a claret and blue shirt was to intercept Paul Connolly's crossfield pass, and the former Charlton midfielder looked composed from the off.

Luis Boa Morte, another of Curbishley's six changes from the side beaten at Newcastle on Sunday, passed up the hosts' first chance when he collected the ball from Carlton Cole and cut inside only to shoot weakly at Luke McCormick.

Parker then linked up well with Ashton, who in turn fed Cole, but an offside flag curtailed his run on goal, before the in-form Ashton blazed a shot over as West Ham began to get a grip on proceedings.

Former Manchester United trainee Sylvain Ebanks-Blake, whose only appearances for The Red Devils came in the League Cup, should have done better when sent through by Halmosi but his hurried shot sailed high and wide.

Ashton should have put the Hammers ahead in the 23rd minute when he collected Lucas Neill's pass and turned superbly on the edge of the area, but drilled his shot narrowly wide.

Buzsaky, Argyle's tricky Hungarian midfielder, gave the hosts a scare with a 20-yard drive which flew inches over Wright's crossbar.

Boa Morte then missed a gilt-edged chance to fire the Hammers ahead when he played a one-two with Hayden Mullins only to dink the ball over the advancing McCormick and wide.

McCormick saved well from Ashton's first-time shot before, at the other end, Neill had to back-pedal onto the goal-line to keep out Halmosi's free-kick with his chest shortly before the break.

Cole's composure deserted him in the 54th minute when he was cleverly put through by Parker's superb chip, the striker taking a heavy touch allowing McCormick to recover his ground. Cole appeared to be felled by a stray arm from Argyle left-back Gary Sawyer, but referee Phil Dowd took no action.

Curbishley threw on young winger Kyel Reid in place of the battered Cole just after the hour mark, with Boa Morte joining Ashton up front.

Reid had a shot deflected wide, but Upton Park was growing frustrated along with Boa Morte, who was booked for a late tackle on Halmosi.

The Hammers had a major let-off moments later when Neill, under pressure from Halmosi, sent an under-hit back pass to Wright.

His clearance was charged down by Hayles, but the veteran striker could not prod the ball goalwards as Neill scampered back.

Ashton then grazed the top of the crossbar with a free-kick which took a heavy deflection off the wall and spun high into the air, before Bowyer sent a volley wide.

But in the 91st minute Reid sent over a low cross from the left which Ashton volleyed expertly across McCormick and into the corner of the net.

West Ham United	Team Statistics	Plymouth Argyle
1	Goals	0
0	1st Half Goals	0
4	Shots on Target	2
8	Shots off Target	5
4	Blocked Shots	2
5	Corners	4
15	Fouls	13
2	Offsides	3
2	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
50.9	Possession	49.1