Hammers nail in coffin of Cup dream

There will be no fairytale F.A. Cup run for the Reds this year after crashing out in London to West Ham on Saturday.

But could this be a blessing in disguise for the Reds who were of course distracted by the Cup`s glamour and it nearly cost the Tyke`s their Championship status.

Three goals from ILunga, Noble and Cole sealed a win for the Hammers, but the Reds had their heads held high after a neat display with some good football on show.

Diego Leon did much to earn a round of applause from even the home crowd when the little Spaniard was substituted late on.

The former Real Madrid man had Robert Green scrambling on several occasions, rattling the woodwork twice, once with a wonderful long-range free-kick.

Another positive the Reds can focus on is that they managed to halve the amount of goals conceded the last time they played at Upton Park, eleven years ago!