Kenyan defender stands firm as Bristol City keep West Ham at bay in crunch FA Cup fixture

STARS ABROAD Kenyan defender stands firm as Bristol City keep West Ham at bay in crunch FA Cup fixture

Mark Kinyanjui 11:00 - 08.01.2024

Obiero, who has been instrumental in helping Bristol City have the fourth best defensive record in the Championship, managed to help keep West Ham tamed in their FA Cup meeting on Sunday.

Harambee Stars prospect Zak Vyner Obiero  held his own as Bristol City had enough about them to hold West Ham to a 1-1 draw in an FA Cup third  round fixture that took pace on Sunday afternoon.

Obiero made two clearances while winning one of his two ground duels. In his five attempted areal challenges, he did manage to win two. He made one timely interception, and recorded an 86 percent pass accuracy, while also producing one key pass.

He was able to keep Lucas Paqueta, who was playing as a striker on the night at bay. His rock solidness is underpinned by the fact Bristol City have the fourth-best defensive record in the Championship.

West Ham wasted little time going ahead against their Championship opponents, opening the scoring with just four minutes on the clock.

Jarrod Bowen continued his red-hot form by scoring his 14th goal of the campaign after rounding goalkeeper Max O'Leary and squeezing the ball under the body of defender Cameron Pring on the line.

But Bristol City refused to allow that early setback to define the manner in which the game would unfold, showing bravery on the ball and unity in defence to find a foothold in the tie.

Sam Bell and Rob Dickie both had opportunities to level for the Robins but Lukasz Fabianski stood firm on both occasions to keep West Ham's lead intact.

Bristol kept pushing and plugging away and played in West Ham’s half after the break, and their willingness to commit to the attack paid dividends when academy graduate Tommy Conway found space behind the Hammers' backline before drilling beyond Fabianski.

Clear-cut chances for the visitors were few and far between after they drew level and they had to hang on in the closing stages as Danny Ings and Divin Mubama both went close.

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