- Eight Hammers were in action on loan over the weekend in the FA Cup, Football League and National League
- There were dream debuts for Toni Martinez and Marcus Browne at Oxford United and Wigan Athletic respectively
- Martinez scored in Oxford’s famous 3-0 win over Newcastle while Browne made his domestic senior bow at Old Trafford
It was a debut to remember for Toni Martinez, on loan at Oxford United, as he scored his side’s third in their famous FA Cup win over Newcastle United.
Being introduced with only 20 minutes remaining, the Spaniard superbly nodded home a cross from the right to make sure the Us would be heading to the fifth round for the first time in 23 years.
Martinez only signed for West Ham United during the summer, joining from Valencia, and he hit the ground running in east London, scoring 12 goals in 13 competitive appearances for the U23s during the first half of this season, earning a loan move to the League One outfit.
And it was a dream start to life at the Kassam Stadium as he found the back of the net in one of the club’s most historic victories.
Just after the break, Kane Hemmings nodded the third tier team in front and things got from bad to worse for Newcastle when Aleksandar Mitrovic missed the chance to equalise from the penalty spot.
Ex-Hammer Rob Hall set Curtis Nelson up for the hosts’ second on 79 minutes as the defender grabbed the second from a corner before Martinez put a gloss on the scoreline with an excellent guided header from another Hall centre.
Martinez’s Oxford will now be one of 16 teams left in football’s oldest competition when the fifth round begins at the end of next month.
Though he could not get a victory like his Hammers teammate, there was another incredible debut for Marcus Browne as he made his senior domestic bow at Old Trafford for loan side Wigan Athletic.
The playmaker was introduced at the home of Manchester United with 14 minutes remaining on the clock, though by then, Jose Mourinho’s men were out of sight at 3-0 up.
Bastian Schweinsteiger added a fourth after Browne’s introduction to seal the hosts’ place in the fifth round after Marouane Fellaini, Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mhikitaryan had all scored previously in the tie.
Browne and Wigan will now turn their attentions to fighting off relegation from the Championship – Warren Joyce’s men currently sit in the drop zone but are only two points from safety.
Back to the bread and butter of the league, Bradford City were 2-1 winners at Oldham Athletic in League One and Josh Cullen again played a major part in the Bantams’ victory.
The midfielder has been a key man in the centre of the park for Stuart McCall’s men this season and the Yorkshire side are still on course for a play-off spot.
The Hammer grabbed an assist with City’s first goal as he centred for Romain Vincelot to head home from close range after just a quarter of an hour.
Brian Wilson equalised just before the break at Boundary Park but with Bradford pressing in the second period, the home side let up and conceded again when Rory McArdle bundled the ball home after Billy Clarke’s free-kick.
Cullen had previously been thwarted by goalkeeper Connor Ripley on two occasions when first a near post drive was beaten away before his header was saved.
Martin Samuelsen played his second 90 minutes back at Peterborough United on Saturday, but Posh were thumped 4-0 by rivals MK Dons.
All four goals for the visitors came within the final 20 minutes as Harvey Barnes set Robbie Neilson’s men on their way at London Road.
Kieran Agard bagged a second before Chucks Aneke scored a brace to add to Peterborough’s misery.
Samuelsen went close to scoring his first goal in League One for almost a year when Marcus Maddison crossed, but the Norwegian could not stretch to toe home from close range.
George Dobson played the final three minutes in Walsall’s topsy-turvy 3-3 draw at Bury, but he entered the field just minutes before Tom Soares grabbed a heartbreaking 91st-minute equaliser for Bury.
The west Midlanders thought they had completed the perfect comeback when, having gone 2-0 down thanks to James Vaughan and Reece Browne goals, Erhun Oztumer’s strike was followed by a Jason McCarthy double.
But former Crystal Palace man Soares rescued a point for struggling Bury as he glanced in late on.
There was a third consecutive Cheltenham Town start for 19-year-old Alex Pike on Saturday too, though the Robins were held to a goalless draw at Crewe Alexandra.
Finally, goalkeeper Sam Howes made his home debut for National League South side Hampton and Richmond Borough – against fellow loan Hammer Sam Ford – as they were 4-1 winners over Bishop’s Stortford. Striker Ford was making his third appearance for the Blues.