Football news - Spirited Gillingham downed by late Zabaleta and Fornals Hammer-blows

West Ham United came alive late to beat Gillingham 2-0 at Priestfield Stadium thanks to goals from Pablo Zabaleta and Pablo Fornals.

The hard-fought third round tie yielded few opportunities for either side as a congested midfield and a lack of quality in the final third resulted in a match high in endeavour but low in entertainment.

The Premier League visitors just about deserved the win over their League One hosts, but needed a 34-year-old substitute to get them the breakthrough.

Zabaleta, on in place of the injured Ryan Fredericks, was left in acres of space on the edge of the box and sent his low shot pinballing-in off the onrushing Gillingham defender and goalkeeper to secure his side the win.

And his namesake Fornals made sure with a second deep into stoppage time.

West Ham will discover their fourth-round opponents on Monday night, with the draw scheduled for half-time in the tie between Arsenal and Leeds United.

David Moyes will be happy with the result, building on his second win in charge of the Hammers. In game where his team were made to battle for every ball, he was given a good indication of the character of his players. His side will of course come up against more technically gifted sides, but what mattered today was the result.

Declan Rice an assured performance in a game that need a midfielder who was willing to battle for every ball and bark orders to team mates

GILLINGHAM: Bonham 6, Fuller 5, Ehmer, Tucker, Ogilvie, Jones, O’Keefe, O’Connor, Lee, Hanlan 7, Jakubiak. Subs: Marshall 5, Charles-Cook 5, Ndjoli N/A

WEST HAM: Fabianski 6, Balbuena 6, Fredericks 5, Ogbonna 6, Diop 6, Masuaku 6, Rice 8, Snodgrass 6, Lanzini 6, Anderson 6, Haller 6. Subs :Zabaleta 7, Fornals 6, Sanches N/A.

45' Haller misses a glaring chance straight away and blazes it over with a one on one with Bonham

73' GOAL! Zabaleta. It's not the cleanest of strikes, but he reacts quickly as ball comes to him at the centre of the box

93' GOAL! Pablo Fornals gets the goal. Anderson battles well to square the ball in the box. It's slotted home for Fornals second goal for West Ham