WEST Ham United’s attacking players performed poorly in the goalless draw with Shrewsbury Town, but I thought the youngsters did well.

Josh Cullen, Reece Burke and Declan Rice started for the Hammers in the FA Cup third round tie and they were the best players on the pitch for West Ham.

Cullen and Burke have just come back from a loan spell with Championship side Bolton Wanderers, and there have been suggestions that they could leave the club on another temporary deal.

But, on this performance, they may be in with a chance of getting more appearances in a Hammers shirt.

Cullen, who was born in Westcliff, earned a lot of plaudits for his performance and lost a tooth after being kicked in the face.

He was brave in the challenge and he showed good spirit to come back on after the injury.

Rice is someone I have been impressed with this season, and I have always said it is important for youngsters to be coming through the academy and get given a chance.

The goalless draw means that West Ham are in the hat for tonight’s fourth round draw and I think it is a competition the club should be taking seriously.

David Moyes made a number of changes to the side, with the youngsters and Joe Hart coming in after Premier League games against West Bromwich Albion and Tottenham Hotspur last week.

But without a doubt I would be trying to win the FA Cup.

I can understand Moyes making the changes because of the fixture pile-up at the start of the year.

And it is a big month for West Ham, with a host of games coming up against teams that are around them in the Premier League table.

West Ham’s next five Premier League games are against Huddersfield Town, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford and those are games they need to take a lot of points from to continue the climb up the standings.