Harewood makes Norwich pay

West Ham United 1 Norwich City

Darkness had long since fallen, and as the train rumbled clear of Upton Park tube station, the outlook for three Norwich City fans was dreary indeed.

"At least [Mattias] Jonson put his sweat and blood into it,' said one. "More than most of them did." "We had far more chances than them," his friend added. "I know," came the reply. "But he's a striker, isn't he? If we'd had one of those, we'd have been all right."

The striker in question, West Ham's Marlon Harewood, had earned the Championship side a place in today's FA Cup fourth-round draw with a smartly taken goal nine minutes from time following a cross from the excellent Luke Chadwick.

There was an irony that it should be Harewood who ended Norwich's interest in this season's FA Cup, given the fact that they have made little secret of their interest in him. Indeed, the West Ham manager, Alan Pardew, hinted after the match that the East Anglian club had already bid close to £3m for his centre-forward.

However, Pardew added that since joining West Ham from Nottingham Forest last season for £500,000, Harewood had become "the complete package". "We are desperate to hold onto him," Pardew stressed. "We would only sell him if it was a ridiculous offer."

Whether any other Premiership side feel ready to be suitably ridiculous remains to be seen. In the meantime, West Ham are counting on Harewood to provide the goals to take them back to the division where they feel they belong, and Norwich are in the process of signing a forward to help keep them there. Dean Ashton, of Crewe, has agreed personal terms with Norwich and the £2m transfer will go through once he has passed a medical.

Ashton's arrival at Carrow Road can hardly come soon enough, Norwich's finishing was dismal on Saturday, although James Walker in the West Ham goal made several crucial saves after being selected ahead of Stephen Bywater.

The most glaring example came in the 51st minute when a through ball from the generally dismal Thomas Helveg allowed Darren Huckerby a clear run on goal. Unfortunately for Norwich, Huckerby is not a player who thrives on thinking time, and he contrived to hit the post.

Afterwards, the Norwich manager, Nigel Worthington, was uncharacteristically passionate in his criticism of the City players' efforts.

"Normally we give value for money, we work hard and play good football," he said. "I didn't see that today. West Ham were up for the Cup and we weren't. We've done the competition a disservice, and that's something that hurts me because I love this competition."

Goal: Harewood (81) 1-0.

West Ham United (4-5-1): Walker; Repka, Ferdinand, Mackay, Powell; Rebrov, Noble, Mullins, Fletcher, Chadwick (Cohen,89); Harewood. Substitutes not used: Bywater (gk), Melville, Sofiane, McClenahan.

Norwich City (4-4-2): Green; Edworthy, Doherty, Fleming, Charlton; Bentley (Mulryne, 48), Francis, Helveg (Jarvis, 57), Brennan; Jonson (Crow, 85), Huckerby. Substitutes not used: Gallacher (gk), Drury.

Referee: U Rennie (South Yorkshire).

Booked: West Ham: Ferdinand.

Man of the match: Chadwick.

Attendance: 23,389.