Former West Ham midfielder Frank Lampard criticised the Hammers defence after they were sent crashing out of the FA Cup courtesy of a 5-0 thrashing by Manchester City.
Yaya Toure, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, John Stones and an own goal from Havard Nordtveit ensured that Slaven Bilic’s side would not match, let alone exceed last season’s exploits in the competition when they lost in the quarter-finals to eventual winners Manchester United.
But it was Silva’s strike just before the interval that drew particular criticism from Lampard, who was working as a pundit on the BBC’s Match of the Day Live programme.
“You can't defend like that,” said Lampard, who also spent a brief spell on loan at Manchester City in the 2014/15 season. “The third was an easy goal in the end.”
“David Silva was quite rightly man of the match and that goal just sums him up as a player. He was brilliant.”
Lampard came through the youth academy at West Ham in the mid-90’s before graduating to the first team under manager and uncle, Harry Redknapp, before joining Chelsea in 2001.
Speaking before the match, Lampard admitted that he still holds a soft spot for the Hammers.
“I grew up at West Ham,” he said. “Obviously I moved on but you never forget your roots.”
