SOMETIMES football can be a cruel game.

For 95 minutes at the London Stadium Accrington Stanley played with style and substance. They had the better chances against their Premier League opponents and played the better football.

But just as extra time beckoned for an heroic Reds side Dimitri Payet did what Dimitri Payet does and curled a 25-yard free-kick into the back of the net.

It was not what Stanley deserved. They looked crestfallen at the end and it was easy to understand why.

It was the travelling Stanley fans who made all the noise early on and John Coleman’s side responded with a bright start on the pitch.

Inside the first three minutes they had strung together a neat passing move from one side of the London Stadium pitch to the other which ended with Jordan Clark teeing up captain Seamus Conneely, but his 20-yard shot was held by a diving Darren Randolph.

West Ham’s first sight of goal saw Sofiane Feghouli beat the offside trap only for Janoi Donacien to get back and produce a fine last-ditch tackle to prevent the shot.

It was Stanley who were creating all the chances though. Sean McConville scampered away down the left and played a low ball into Clark, who flicked it a couple of yards wide, before John O’Sullivan curled an 18-yard effort wide.

The home side were growing into the game as the half grew on but we’re struggling to work clear sights of goal, with Jonathan Calleri sending an ambitious lob over Parish and the crossbar and Simone Zaza seeing his 18-yard shot blocked.

A sign of Stanley’s first half dominance came in the form of Slaven Bilic’s half-time changes as he introduced Payet and Manuel Lanzini, with the latter creating an early chance for Zaza, but his shot on the turn was easy for Parish.

The better football was continuing to come from Stanley, with O’Sullivan and Kee exchanging passes before the former found Sean McConville in space. He controlled and sent a fizzing half-volley towards goal, which Randolph acrobatically saved.

Next Donacien couldn’t quite poke a scrambled corner past Randolph, before McConville curled over after good work from Kee and substitute Chris Eagles.

With 15 minutes to go Payet created space on the left and sent in a low cross which Zaza smashed towards goal from eight yards, but Parish kept it out with his legs.

The Hammers were turning up the tempo as the clock ticked down but Michail Antonio, the third man off the bench for the home side, slashed wide from inside the area and then headed a Payet free-kick past the post.

Lanzini almost snatched it for the Hammers with three minutes to go, creating space inside the area, but his shot was blocked by substitute Mark Hughes, who then poked it away as Zaza prepared to pounce.

West Ham left-back Arthur Masuaku went off with a groin injury leaving them down to 10, while several Stanley men were out on their feet, but with extra time seconds away Payet, who had won the free-kick with a run through the middle, sent the set-piece arrowing beyond Parish and into the back of the net to end the tie.

West Ham United: Darren Randolph, Alvaro Arbeloa, Havard Nordtveit, Angelo Ogbonna, Arthur Masuaku, Sofiane Feghouli (Manuel Lanzini 46), Pedro Obiang, Edimilson Fernandes, Gokhan Tore (Dimitri Payet 46), Jonathan Calleri (Michail Antonio 70), Simone Zaza

Subs not used: Adrian, Sam Byram, Reece Oxford, Ashley Fletcher

Accrington Stanley: Elliot Parish, Zak Vyner, Omar Beckles, Matty Pearson, Janoi Donacien, Scott Brown (Mark Hughes 77), Seamus Conneely (Rommy Boco 84), John O’Sullivan (Chris Eagles 65), Jordan Clark, Sean McConville, Billy Kee

Subs not used: Aaron Chapman, Callam Jones, Paddy Lacey, Terry Gornell