Record signing Brown Ideye scored twice as resurgent West Brom thumped West Ham to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2008.
The striker, 26, side-footed the Baggies ahead after 20 minutes before a superb long-range strike from James Morrison made it 2-0 at half time.
Ideye headed the third goal early in the second half before West Ham had substitute Morgan Amalfitano sent off for pushing Chris Brunt in the face.
Saido Berahino drove in the final goal.
Compared to a quite stunning first-half goal from James Morrison, Ideye’s opening 20th minute strike wasn’t much to look at. It was a poacher’s goal that owed far more to Craig Dawson and the quality of his cross as well as his success in winning an aerial challenge with Aaron Cresswell. Indeed Ideye might have been a fraction offside when he diverted Dawson’s delivery past Adrian from close range. The assistant referee saw nothing wrong with it, though, his flag remaining down.
In fairness to a side now boasting just one defeat in nine since Pulis took charge, it was no less than West Brom deserved. Set up to be aggressive by their manager, they attacked West Ham with real vigour to produce arguably their finest performance of the season.
Weakened by the loss of Andy Carroll to injury, Sam Allardyce’s side offered little in response; not a single effort on target in an opening half memorable only for a couple of free-kick opportunities squandered by Cresswell and Enner Valencia. The second half was even more disappointing, and in the end uncomfortable for Allardyce. The travelling supporters not only booed his captain, Kevin Nolan, when he was hooked after an hour, but turned on Allardyce too with a few choice words.
To make matters worse West Ham’s manager then had to watch the player who replaced Nolan get himself sent off after only 10 minutes on the pitch. Martin Atkinson had already shown a yellow card for his nasty challenge on Chris Brunt, then producing a red when the Frenchman foolishly shoved West Brom’s captain in the face.
West Brom, by contrast, were both composed and excellent. Well organised, obviously. This is a Pulis team, after all. But they were dynamic, determined, every inch a team desperate to progress to the last eight of a competition opening up for the few Premier League sides that remain.
Pulis had spoken of his passion for the FA Cup, of his earliest memories of watching the final as a kid and then re-enacting the game with his friends, and his players performed with that same enthusiasm.