After what had been a forgettable League Cup tie for 88 minutes, Jarrod Bowen provided Julen Lopetegui with the birthday present of a place in the third round.
The Hammers’ captain knew little about it, the ball hitting his midriff and wrong-footing Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto after Mohammed Kudus had fired a shot at goal, but it was enough to seal victory against a wasteful Bournemouth side. There was an appeal of handball from the Cherries, but replays proved inconclusive and, with VAR not in use, the goal stood.
The crowd of 47,381 was the highest for a game at this stage of the competition since 1981, but those in attendance had little to get excited for the majority of this game – not unusual for an early round tie between two Premier League clubs.
Lopetegui had originally made eight changes to the team that beat Crystal Palace but the Hammers boss was forced to make a late switch, with Vladimir replacing Aaron Cresswell in the line-up after the left back dropped out in the warm-up. Summer signings Niclas Fullkrug, Crysensio Summerville, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo were all given their full debuts while James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez and Lukasz Fabianski also came into the side.
Andoni Iraola, meanwhile, made seven changes – with youngster Daniel Jebbison, who joined from Sheffield United this summer, given his first start of the season.
Both teams struggled to get going in the first half, with the first real chance falling to the hosts five minutes before the break. Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s driving run and cut-back found Bowen, but he could only flick the ball on to Fullkrug, who was unable to get a shot away. Summerville then blasted an effort over the bar from close-range.
Dango Ouattara nearly produced what would have been a stunning goal seconds before the half-time whistle, but his improvised flick from James Hill’s cross was well saved by Fabianski.
Summerville nearly broke the deadlock immediately after the re-start, but his curling effort flew just wide of the far post. Bournemouth started to get on top and had a flurry of chances, with Evanilson going close before Marcus Tavernier sent a free-kick against the crossbar.
Bournemouth continued to pile on pressure but without reward, as Evanilson was the next to hit the woodwork with a shot from a tight angle.
The Hammers finally produced a quality move when Lucas Paqueta played a chipped pass to Bowen, who found Kudus on the right. His shot was heading goalwards before it deflected off Bowen’s chest and over a helpless Neto.
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