---
title: "Opinion: West Ham starter Craig Dawson endured forgettable FA Cup night"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2022/03/03/opinion-west-ham-starter-craig-dawson-endured-forgettable-fa-cup-night/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2022-03-03T07:15:00Z"
modified: "2022-03-03T07:15:00Z"
---

# Opinion: West Ham starter Craig Dawson endured forgettable FA Cup night

Since joining [West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2022/03/02/opinion-fa-cup-provides-opportunity-to-give-michail-antonio-much-needed-rest/) from Watford, central defender [Craig Dawson](https://readwestham.com/2022/02/14/pundit-unimpressed-by-controversial-west-ham-equaliser/) has been a model of consistency for the Hammers.

So often a steadying influence at the heart of the defence, the 31-year-old has a [wealth of experience to call upon](https://www.premierleague.com/players/4198/Craig-Dawson/overview) in order to handle most situations.

However, the pace, power and direct running of Armando Broja proved too hot to handle on numerous occasions for the Englishman as West Ham were [dumped out of the FA Cup](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60562810) by Southampton.

> Wonderful solo goal from Armando Broja and a nerveless James Ward-Prowse penalty 🔥
>
> Southampton reach the FA Cup quarter-finals with victory over West Ham 👇
>
> — Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) [March 2, 2022](https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1499143163407122432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Dawson struggled to contend with the forward and overall was handed a [5.90 Sofascore rating](https://www.sofascore.com/player/craig-dawson/50027) for a display that saw the ace give the ball away on 14 occasions.

After the match, David Moyes [lamented](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/news/west-ham-press-conference-live-23263297) a ‘disappointing’ performance and cited a ‘lack of quality’ in the final third.

Here’s how we rated the West Ham players…

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

**XI**: Alphonse Areola 7, Issa Diop 5, Craig Dawson 4, Kurt Zouma 5, Ben Johnson 6; Declan Rice 7, Tomas Soucek 6; Jarrod Bowen 5, Pablo Fornals 6, Manuel Lanzini 7, Michail Antonio 6.

**Subs**: Said Benrahma 5, Nikola Vlasic 6.

As you can see, far from a vintage display from many of the regular key men.

Whilst the plus was a [return to goalscoring](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michail-antonio/leistungsdaten/spieler/104124) ways for Michail Antonio, both Jarrod Bowen and Dawson will be bitterly disappointed with their impact, or lack thereof on the tie.