Premier League West Ham edged out League One Lincoln City to reach the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
The Hammers broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, when Tomas Soucek made a late run into the box to get on the end of Said Benrahma's corner.
Lincoln were made to rue the numerous chances they squandered in the first half - and Alex Mitchell had a close-range effort ruled out for offside after West Ham failed to deal with a long throw.
Reeco Hackett-Fairchild had Lincoln's best chance from Alistair Smith's cross, but he was denied by Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
West Ham made 10 changes to the side that lost 3-1 to Liverpool at the weekend - with Soucek the only player to retain his place - and they took time to find their rhythm.
Summer signing Mohammed Kudus was a bright spark for the away side - almost catching Lukas Jensen out at the near post and swinging in a deep free-kick which the goalkeeper did well to tip over.
Lincoln's Hakeeb Adelakun had a dangerous cross headed behind and Ethan Hamilton's strike from distance went high and wide before Soucek found a way through.
Ben Johnson's 25-yard effort smacked against a post as West Ham looked to double their lead, but they were given a late scare six minutes from time.
Edson Alvarez gave the ball straight to Ted Bishop and he found Dylan Duffy but Fabianski was quick across his line to ensure his side progressed to the last 16.
Line-ups
Lincoln City
Formation 3-4-3
1Jensen
25Mitchell15O'Connor23Roughan
2Sørensen11Hamilton6Erhahon16Burroughs
7Hackett-Fairchild21Adelakun8Smith
- 1Jensen
- 25Mitchell
- 15O'ConnorBooked at 74mins
- 23Roughan
- 2Sørensen
- 11Hamilton
- 6Erhahon
- 16Burroughs
- 7Hackett-FairchildSubstituted forDuffyat 78'minutes
- 21AdelakunSubstituted forMakamaat 78'minutes
- 8SmithSubstituted forBishopat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Brown
- 5Jackson
- 10Bishop
- 12Wright
- 17Duffy
- 22Eyoma
- 27Makama
West Ham
Formation 4-2-3-1
1Fabianski
24Kehrer15Mavropanos21Ogbonna2Johnson
28Soucek8Fornals
17Cornet14Kudus22Benrahma
18Ings
- 1Fabianski
- 24Kehrer
- 15Mavropanos
- 21Ogbonna
- 2Johnson
- 28SoucekBooked at 64mins
- 8FornalsSubstituted forÁlvarezat 66'minutes
- 17CornetSubstituted forMubamaat 66'minutes
- 14Kudus
- 22Benrahma
- 18Ings
Substitutes
- 5Coufal
- 19Álvarez
- 27Aguerd
- 32Coventry
- 42Casey
- 45Mubama
- 49Anang
- 50Marshall
- 51Chesters
Referee:Josh Smith
Attendance:10,168
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Lincoln City 0, West Ham United 1.
Second Half ends, Lincoln City 0, West Ham United 1.
Attempt blocked. Ethan Hamilton (Lincoln City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United).
Ethan Hamilton (Lincoln City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Ben Johnson (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Dylan Duffy (Lincoln City).
Attempt saved. Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Thilo Kehrer (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ethan Hamilton (Lincoln City).
Attempt saved. Dylan Duffy (Lincoln City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jovon Makama.
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Seán Roughan.
Attempt missed. Edson Álvarez (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Mohammed Kudus following a corner.
Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Jack Burroughs.
Attempt blocked. Mohammed Kudus (West Ham United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Saïd Benrahma.
Konstantinos Mavropanos (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Paudie O'Connor (Lincoln City).
Substitution, Lincoln City. Dylan Duffy replaces Reeco Hackett-Fairchild.
Substitution, Lincoln City. Teddy Bishop replaces Alistair Smith.
Substitution, Lincoln City. Jovon Makama replaces Hakeeb Adelakun.
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