It's fair to say the FA Cup won't be top of David Moyes' list of priorities this season. Yet, fielding a fairly strong side for the trip to League One's Shrewsbury Town, a 0-0 draw and the prospect of a replay will not be good news.
Giving Joe Hart a start in place of Adrian, one suspected that the fact the Hammers were traveling to Hart's old club Shrewsbury Town may have compelled Moyes to give his increasingly second-choice 'keeper a run out.
Not that Hart was suitably prepared for the weather conditions he would find on a gloriously sunny Sunday afternoon.
Declan Rice continued his impressive presence as a first-choice centre back in West Ham's defensive trio alongside Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid.
Of the wider Irish contingent involved for West Ham, Declan Rice had some company by way of Josh Cullen, West Ham's English-born midfielder who has featured many times now for Ireland's Under 21s.
While he gave a credible performance in what will go down as a poor result for the Hammers, Cullen is more likely to remember the afternoon for what he lost - a tooth, most crucially.
Going in head first against the boot of Shrewsbury's Abu Ogogo, you can actually see Cullen's tooth fly out of his mouth - not for the faint-hearted.
Ouch!! West Ham’s Josh Cullen loses a tooth! pic.twitter.com/8cp3mU38Oe
— Tim Shires (@timshires) January 7, 2018
It took the medics a few moments to find the missing tooth shortly thereafter.
West Ham United's Josh Cullen gets kicked in the face and loses a tooth, #WHU physio goes to collect it.
The Magic of the FA Cup. pic.twitter.com/ckpEJAS1l9— amadí (@amadoit__) January 7, 2018
At least one of Cullen's teammates who wasn't playing in today's draw was quick to relay what will undoubtedly be the first of many jokes at Cullen's expense.
Mind the gap @JoshCullen8
— MARK NOBLE (@Noble16Mark) January 7, 2018
While what we ought to expect that the woman who is actually Cullen's significant other saw nothing but bravery.
Beyond that, plenty were keen to have their say on the unfortunate incident.
Score the winner and Get to the dentist mate 😂 @JoshCullen8
— Lewis Page (@LewisPage3) January 7, 2018
All the respect to Josh Cullen, having his tooth kicked out during his West Ham debut, then aching to play on. Loads of Premiership players could learn from this and stop crying over the most petty, comparatively gentle, tackles.
— Jonathan Hatchman (@JonHatchman) January 7, 2018
