Key events
The teams
West Ham: Areola, Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Disasi, Scarles, Soucek, Kanté, Bowen, Fernandes, Traoré, Pablo
Subs: Herrick, Kilman, Summerville, Wilson, Castellanos, Magassa, Wan-Bissaka, Potts, Mayers
Brentford: Kelleher, Lewis-Potter, Collins, Ajer, Kayode, Henderson, Yarmolyuk, Schade, Damsgaard, Ouattara, Igor Thiago
Subs: Valdimarsson, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Jensen, Donovan, Furo, Bentt, Shield, Stephenson
Preamble
In 147 years of existence, Fulham have won the FA Cup a grand total of zero times. Currently, they sit 10th in the Premier League, well clear of relegation with a Conference League spot possible but unlikely.
But what has that to do with a game between West Ham and Brentford? Well, following the midweek round of fixtures, Marco Silva made nine changes to his team, behaviour more craven than the Cottage itself, and they duly lost at home to Southampton, their shot at glory gone – to what end?
It may be that Nuno Espírito Santo feels compelled to do similarly this evening, with West Ham stuck in a relegation ruckus – though it makes just as much sense that, after a fine away win, he seeks to sustain momentum. Keith Andrews, though, has no such aggravation, Brentford lying seventh in the table and in good enough form to think progress in the Cup will elevate rather than undermine their quest for a European spot.
Ultimately, football is about moments and memories, experiences that live forever and are passed down through generations. As guardians of their clubs, it is for managers to chase these, not refuse them fearful of their own inability to stave off subsequent unspecified misfortune; just ask Oliver Glasner, Brendan Rodgers of Roberto Martínez all of them now immortal after giving Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Wigan Athletic fans perhaps the greatest day of their lives. There are no reasons, only excuses; no prudence, only cowardice.
Kick-off: 7.30pm GMT
