BIRMINGHAM, England — The beginning of Graham Potter’s tenure at West Ham was marred by disappointment and controversy as his team fell 2-1 to Aston Villa, resulting in their elimination from the FA Cup on Friday.

This third-round encounter will be largely remembered for a contentious decision leading to Morgan Rogers’ decisive goal. Lucas Paquetá initially put West Ham in the lead with a goal just nine minutes into the match. However, with only 19 minutes left on the clock, Amadou Onana netted the equalizer for Villa, shifting the momentum of the game.

In a pivotal moment, the referee awarded Villa a corner in the 75th minute after Onana’s shot veered wide. This set the stage for Rogers, who converted after Ollie Watkins sent the ball back into the box post-clearance. Video replays indicated that Onana’s attempt did not touch a West Ham player, meaning the decision should have resulted in a goal kick instead.

Potter, who has coached Swansea, Brighton, and Chelsea in the past, took over from Julen Lopetegui just days before this match, marking his return to management after nearly two years. Despite a promising start, West Ham struggled with ball possession and territory as the game progressed, leading to Villa advancing to the fourth round, where they aim to secure their first FA Cup victory since 1957.

In another match that evening, third-tier side Wycombe made headlines by eliminating Portsmouth, winning 2-0.

The match featured Wycombe, who are second in League One, facing Portsmouth, currently struggling at the bottom of the Championship. Wycombe asserted their dominance early with Brandon Hanlan scoring within 17 minutes from close range. Ten minutes later, Sonny Bradley extended their lead with a strong header from a free-kick attempt.

Portsmouth, who won the FA Cup in 2008, made three substitutions during halftime in an attempt to turn the tide, but Wycombe maintained their composure and controlled the match, successfully securing their place in the next round of the tournament.