2025-26 FA Cup: Fifth Round – West Ham vs Brentford

West Ham host Brentford in the concluding tie of the fifth round in the 2025-26 FA Cup. 

Victory would see West Ham progress to the Quarter-Finals for the first time in a decade, whilst Brentford haven’t progressed past this stage since the 1988-89 season.

 

Team News

Freddie Potts is available for West Ham following completion of his suspension, having been red carded in their fourth-round victory at Burton Albion.

Pablo (knock) and Lukasz Fabianski (back) remain sidelined.

Brentford will be without Rico Henry after he suffered a hamstring injury during their goalless draw at Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Reiss Nelson (calf) could return but Aaron Hickey (hamstring), Vitaly Janelt (metatarsal), Fabio Carvalho, Josh Dasilva and Antoni Milambo (all ACL) remain sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off?

West Ham host Brentford at London Stadium on Monday 9 March at 7:30pm GMT, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• West Ham have won one of two previous FA Cup ties against Brentford (W1, L1), although they only lost their first tie against the Bees by a 2-0 result in an away replay in Fourth Round of 1926-27 edition after a 1-1 draw at home.
• This is Brentford’s first FA Cup tie away to West Ham to be played at the Hammers’ current home, London Stadium, although they drew 1-1 at Upton Park in January 1927 in their only previous FA Cup trip to the Hammers.
• Brentford have kept clean sheets in their last two visits to West Ham – albeit in Premier League, as they won 1-0 in February 2025 then 2-0 in October 2025.
• West Ham have won just one of their five previous London derbies at home in the FA Cup this century (W1, L4).
• Brentford are yet to win away against London-based opposition in the FA Cup this century (D1, L3), with their only non defeat being a 3-3 draw at Barnet in January 2019 before they won the replay 3-1 at home.

 

Prediction

Although Premier League survival is West Ham’s priority especially after a clinical smash-and-grab winner at Fulham last Wednesday, they could in a way do with extending this cup run as further motivation but if Nuno Espirito Santo rotates then they have to be sharper than they were at Burton.

Brentford meanwhile are right in the race for European qualification via the league but I do think that they need to take this run seriously as an alternative qualification method, so I am expecting Keith Andrews to name a strong line-up here as there isn’t just a Quarter-Final spot but also local pride at stake.

Much of this match though probably hinges on the strength of the starting line-up and I do expect Brentford to be more stronger than they were at Macclesfield in the last round, which could well be the difference as West Ham realistically need to focus on league matters now.

Prediction: West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Result: West Ham 2-2 Brentford (West Ham win 5-3 on penalties)