Burton vs West Ham: Summerville stabs late winner in scrappy extra-time tussle
West Ham progressed to the FA Cup fifth round after a 1-0 extra-time victory over League One side Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium on Feb. 14, 2026 (ET). Crysensio Summerville, introduced off the bench, produced the decisive touch in the closing moments of extra time as Burton were left to rue a raft of missed opportunities and a controversial penalty shout.
Late drama settles low-quality tie
The match rarely rose above the level of a cagey cup tie, with chances at a premium for large stretches. Burton, buoyed by home support, dominated early periods and felt aggrieved at a clear penalty appeal when a challenge involving Mavropanos and Beesley appeared to take place outside the box. Refereeing decisions went against the hosts at key moments and momentum swung in favour of the visitors as the contest wore on.
Summerville came off the bench and found the breakthrough deep into extra time with a deflected strike that squirmed past the goalkeeper, effectively deciding the tie. The goal came in a game that was notable more for its intensity and stop-start nature than for moments of quality. West Ham's bench provided the spark that the visitors had lacked for much of the 120 minutes.
Controversy and frustration for Burton
Burton’s players and supporters will leave feeling hard done by. Their manager highlighted two strong penalty shouts in the first half and maintained that one key incident “if that was outside of the box it gets given 10 times out of 10. ” That sense of injustice compounded the pain of seeing a League One side take a Premier League opponent to the wire.
Burton came within inches of forcing a shootout when late efforts nearly carved out an equaliser, but the final ball and finishing were not there on the afternoon. The hosts boss stressed his team started well and created clear openings, lamenting a lack of clinical finishing when it mattered most. Despite the loss, Burton can take heart from their organisation and competitiveness against higher-level opposition.
The tie also boiled over in the closing stages. Freddie Potts was shown a straight red for a rash lunge in added time of extra time, further souring a day that had been defined by tight margins and simmering frustration. A late melee produced a flurry of bookings before the referee brought the contest to an end at ET30+2 with West Ham through.
What this means for both sides
For West Ham, it’s a pragmatic progression. Their head coach stressed the difficulty of the assignment and applauded the discipline that ultimately saw his side through. The victory keeps them alive in the Cup and provides a welcome, if unconvincing, confidence boost as league matters continue to demand attention.
Burton must quickly refocus on their league campaign. The manager underlined the fine margins that separate victory from defeat in knockout football and reiterated pride in his players’ endeavour. Moments such as the penalty incident and missed chances will be pored over, but the performance will also serve as evidence that his squad can compete against top-tier opponents on their day.
The Pirelli encounter encapsulated the unpredictable nature of the FA Cup: a modest match in terms of entertainment that nonetheless delivered late drama and a twist that will live long in the memory of both sets of fans. West Ham advance; Burton have questions to answer but can leave their supporters with the belief they were not out of place.
