Di Canio sinks Man Utd

Paolo di Canio celebrates his winner at Old Trafford

Manchester United 0-1 West Ham United

A goal from Paolo di Canio knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup as West Ham beat the odds at Old Trafford.

The Italian struck in the 76th minute, latching onto Frederic Kanoute's through ball and beating the protesting Fabien Barthez, who looked in vain for the offside flag.

Man Utd finished the game with four strikers on the field - Dwight Yorke and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer joining Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham - but still failed to find a equaliser.

Di Canio's winner ended a run which had seen West Ham fail to win at Old Trafford since 1986.

You wouldn't want anyone in that position other than Paolo

  West Ham manager Harry Redknapp

The result also made a mockery of their problems in their build-up to the game, their squad decimated by injuries and international call-ups.

Kanoute, and goalkeeper Shaka Hislop were only playing after passing late fitness tests but still looked to be feeling the effects of their respective calf and knee injuries.

Kanoute (l) passed for di Canio to score

Hislop's problems were notably apparent as Stuart Pearce took West Ham's goal-kicks.

Hislop mis-kicked an attempted clearance after 14 minutes but a back-tracking Tihinen was on hand to clear the danger.

But Hislop, like his team-mates, was putting up a determined resistance as the home side began to increase the pressure after a low-key opening.

A minute after Ryan Giggs had produced a sparkling piece of skill to create a crossing opportunity, Hislop turned away an angled shot from the Welshman.

Giggs frustrated

Giggs was involved in most of the home side's best efforts but failed to apply the finishing touch to a sweeping counter-attack after 33 minutes.

Hislop was proving a determined obstacle to overcome and tipped over a David Beckham free-kick before Sheringham was guilty of spurning a glorious opportunity.

After Hislop had parried an Andy Cole shot, Sheringham shot over with a gaping goal at his mercy.

A stinging Joe Cole 25-yard shot was parried by Barthez as West Ham showed they attacking potential.

But the Frenchman could not keep out di Canio's effort as the game looked to be heading for a replay.

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Man Utd: Barthez, Irwin, Silvestre, Stam, Gary Neville, Beckham, Giggs, Keane, Butt, Sheringham, Cole. Subs: Van Der Gouw, Phil Neville, Yorke, Solskjaer, Chadwick.

West Ham: Hislop, Tihinen, Stuart Pearce, Dailly, Schemmel, Winterburn, Lampard, Cole, Carrick, Kanoute, di Canio. Subs: Forrest, Potts, Moncur, Ian Pearce, Soma.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).