Giggs relieved after Cup test

Ryan Giggs admits the final whistle came as a relief on Wednesday night, as Manchester United edged past West Ham and into the FA Cup fourth round.

An early Wayne Rooney strike proved the difference, and although United dominated for long periods the visitors also enjoyed spells of sustained pressure.

“In the FA Cup anything can happen. We’re relieved to be in the next round,” Giggs told MUTV.

“We got off to a great start but then we didn’t capitalise on that. We were a little bit sloppy in the last third. West Ham made it difficult for us. We should have built on that early goal. But credit to West Ham – they’re a tough team to play against.

“You’re always concerned when it’s only 1-0, no matter who you’re playing. But especially against West Ham – they can cause you problems from set pieces and when they put the ball into the box. We needed to get that second goal, but luckily we hung on.”

The Reds’ best opportunity to put the game beyond doubt fell to Rooney, but the striker fluffed his 79th-minute penalty kick, sending it sailing over the bar.

Giggs put it down to “one of those things” but conceded his teammate will have been disappointed with his failure to find the net.

“Wayne, under pressure, has scored so many crucial penalties for us,” he said. “It’s not so bad when it doesn’t alter the result, but Wayne will be disappointed because he wants to score goals.”