Hammers burst plucky Robins' bubble.

Two first half goal line clearances from Mark Noble and Andy Carroll and a second half headed goal from hammers substitute Diafra Sakho was the difference between West Ham and Bristol City on Sunday afternoon.

The first half saw the home side in the ascendency and but for the interceptions of  Carroll and Noble not many eyebrows would have been raised if the Robins had gone in at the break leading in this cup tie.

Mark Noble clears from Matt Smith's header.

It was a bit like De Ja Vu for big Sam and his happy hammers though as for the second week in a row he saw his team play out a lacklustre first half followed up by a much improved and more professional second half, which eventually ended in victory for his team.

Sakho came off the bench in the second half to book the Irons place in the last 16 after good work from Andy Carroll down City's right hand side he put in a cross to the back post where the Senegalese striker was waiting to rise and head home a powerful header into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Happy Hammer Sakho scores the winner.

It was heartbreak for the league 1 team who had more than matched their opponents for the majority of the game and in doing so showed the footballing viewing public what a decent and good footballing side Bristol City really are.

Steve Cotterill although understandably disappointed at the fact that his team didn't take their chances and punish their premier league counterparts, he will also come away from this game with a lot of pride.  His players should also take pride and confidence from this narrowest of defeats into the rest of the season.

City manager Steve Cotterill will be proud of his team

Although the  FA cup dream is over this season for the Robins there is obviously still a lot to play for for City this season.  The emphasis now turns to the league one title and getting promotion to the Championship, also there is the small matter of trying to win the league trophy which they are only 90 minutes away from as they take a 4-2 aggregate lead into the second leg of the semi final on Thursday night.

Being knocked out at the fourth round stage is no disgrace for a team in the third tier of English football, Bristol City are in good company as exactly half of the premier league fell at the same fence, including title favourites Chelsea and Manchester City.  The Robins should look upon this years FA cup adventure as a success and not a disappointment in what could be one of their most successful seasons ever.

So it is with heavy heart that I have to say goodbye to Bristol City and to this part of my FA cup glory hunt.

Good luck to the Robins for the  rest of the season, and I hope it ends up being as successful as it can be for you and your supporters.

In the meantime the FA cup glory hunt rolls on and I know have the pleasure of supporting a club I know very well in the 5th round against West Brom.

West Ham United.

Come on you Ironsssssss!!

Up the Hammers