Alvin Martin lauds 'absolute class' Declan Rice in West Ham victory

West Ham were left eternally grateful to their heroes of the season so far as Declan Rice and Jarrod Bowen both scored late on to overcome Kidderminster Harriers.

The Hammers were behind for much of the fourth round contest against their National League North opposition before Rice saved the Premier League side’s blushes in added time.

In not too dissimilar fashion, it was left until late in extra time with penalties on the horizon for Bowen to tap home from close range and send David Moyes’ men through.

Commentating on talkSPORT (2.20pm Saturday, Febraury 5 2022) Alvin Martin was in awe of Rice’s goal to keep the Irons in the FA Cup.

“What a goal. We’ve just seen a moment of absolute class from Declan Rice. He’s taken the game by the scruff of the neck. Cut inside and he didn’t just place it, he’s rifled it into the top right-hand corner. A quality goal by a quality player when it was needed most.”

The 23-year-old truly rescued the Hammers and kept alive the hopes of domestic cup glory.

So far this season Rice has scored four times and provided four assists in 29 appearances across all competitions.

That was a seriously close call.

West Ham were seconds away from being eliminated by a side some 115 places below them in the English football pyramid.

Moreover, the East London club have a genuine chance of doing something special in the FA Cup this term and it was so nearly lost.

All credit should go to Kidderminster but it was the £67.5million valued man who came up with the goods eventually.