West Ham 4-0 Doncaster: Hammers set up FA Cup fifth-round tie against Man Utd or Liverpool
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Highlights: West Ham United 4-0 Doncaster Rovers
West Ham gained a routine win over League One side Doncaster Rovers to set up an FA Cup fifth-round tie against either Manchester United or Liverpool.
The Hammers went ahead in the second minute when Andriy Yarmolenko released Ryan Fredericks and his pull-back was steered into the net by Pablo Fornals.
Yarmolenko made it 2-0 as he lifted a finish over Doncaster goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe after Said Benrahma's pass.
Andy Butler scored an own goal and Oladapo Afolayan added a fourth.
Substitute Afolayan had only been on the pitch for eight minutes and netted his first Hammers goal from close range when Fredericks' shot was parried by Balcombe.
The fourth-round match between Premier League leaders Manchester United and last season's title winners Liverpool will be played at 17:00 GMT on Sunday, 24 January and will be broadcast on BBC One with coverage beginning at 16:30.
Doncaster came into the game at London Stadium fourth in League One and with seven victories in their past eight matches.
However, West Ham, seventh in the Premier League, could have finished the match off inside the opening 10 minutes as after Fornals' early goal, Manuel Lanzini and Yarmolenko both shot wide when well placed.
But Yarmolenko's calm finish after he raced on to Benrahma's through ball later in the first half ended any hopes of an upset.
An own goal from Doncaster Rovers' Andy Butler gave West Ham their third of four goals, with the Hammers away against either Manchester United or Liverpool in round five in February
Tomas Soucek twice had efforts saved by Balcombe in the second half, but Butler inadvertently extended West Ham's lead when Mark Noble's right-wing corner bounced off him into the net.
The visitors almost scored in the second half but Matt Smith's strike hit the crossbar before Afolayan sealed the win as the Hammers reached the fifth round for the first time in five seasons.
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West Ham assistant manager Alan Irvine, speaking to BBC Sport: "Very professional and strong. It's another clean sheet and another win. We're delighted that players who were given the opportunity to start have taken that - it's what you hope for.
"There's no way we would play a team we didn't think were strong enough. Full marks to them in the way they approached the game. They have strengthened their claim for places.
"We have a squad of players who if we keep fit are strong enough to make changes. The FA Cup is a fantastic competition and it's vitally important we try to do as well as we can."
Doncaster boss Darren Moore, speaking to BBC Sport: "The message was clear to my players coming up against that quality of opposition, if you make mistakes, you get punished.
"There were some good things we did but ultimately we got punished. It's been a good cup run and we take the rough with the smooth.
"The players can be pleased at what they have done to help the club out financially. Best of luck to West Ham for the rest of the competition.
"This was a big test and we had a mountain to climb after conceding so early. But the thing is to learn from it for the remainder of the season and for the players' individual careers."
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