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By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Kassam Stadium
West Ham director Manuel Pellegrini took duty as his side were bundled from this Carabao Cup in grisly manner by League One Oxford United.
The Hammers arrived at the Kassam Stadium on the rear of an outstanding triumph over Manchester United to achieve the peaks of fifth in the Premier League, however Karl Robinson’s side superbly outplayed and then over-powered their illustrious competitors, that finished a whole shambles.
Oxford, now 12th in League One, were full of optimism following a record-breaking 6-0 triumph at Lincoln City at the weekend and that was a famous and richly merited triumph.
“The entire team did not play well. Not only did we concede four goals, but we did not create too many chances,” Pellegrini said.
“We missed too many passes from the start and also the duty is on me because I picked the gamers, and second on the group that didn’t compete.
“It’s easy to say that we played quite badly, but Oxford did whatever they had to win this game. They played with a great deal of motivation, with desire and we didn’t play nicely.”
Both sides fielded much-changed sides and the only surprise was West Ham before conceding after 55 minutes when Oxford defender Elliott Moore shot across Roberto, survived for so long.
Oxford, who missed clear chances in the first half through Cameron Brannagan and Anthony Forde, nearly increased their lead quickly as Roberto saved brilliantly from Jamie Mackie.
But there was no escape for West Ham as replacement Matty Taylor switched with 19 seconds in Mark Sykes’ cross.
Substitute Tariqe Fosu, a hat-trick hero in Lincoln City, raced clear from the halfway line to score with great composure after 84 minutes to extinguish any hopes of a West Ham comeback.
The agony wasn’t over yet for West Ham boss Pellegrini and his abject side as Shandon Baptiste deservedly capped a man-of-the-match showing with a fourth.
Oxford sponsor fellow League One side Sunderland, who won 1-0 at Sheffield United, in the fourth round in the week beginning 28 October.
“Looking at the scoreboard – 4-0 from West Ham and a very powerful West Ham – this will go down as one of the greatest results at the Kassam in the past few years,” Oxford manager Robinson explained.
The EFL Cup represented a sensible prospect for West Ham to win a prize, but Pellegrini lacked this jolt by making nine adjustments, leaving danger guys Sebastien Haller along with Felipe Anderson.
He paid the price as the Hammers made a desperate screen, much to the aggravation of those fans that packed a single corner of this three-sided scene.
West Ham were lethargic, off the speed and seemingly complacent since they were hustled from their stride since the track-suited Pellegrini failed to inspire his team.
He kept Haller back till they were down a goal but after which the momentum had been flowing inexorably in the direction of Oxford, who must have inflicted even sexier punishment as they ran riot to the end.
Jack Wilshere squandered an chance to stake a claim because he was over-run from Baptiste’s energy. Wilshere looked a spent force in contrast.
It was reminiscent of West Ham’s reduction at League One AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup fourth round last year since they lacked heart and stomach for the battle, surrendering without implying for a moment they’d get back into this match once Oxford went ahead.
West Ham have shown evidence of stability and improvement in the Premier League, which was an altered line-up, however, their functionality was inexcusable and all the plaudits should go to the underdogs.
“I believed it was a poor performance from everyone,” said Hammers captain Zabaleta.
“We feel sorry about the performance tonight and accountable to the off fans who came to the game. It was a bad night.”
This contest gave Oxford the greatest day in their history when they beat QPR in Wembley in 1986 – which can be a night that will even live in the memory of their jubilant fans.
West Ham made adjustments but, for context, Oxford director Robinson also made six changes and his team dealt much better with these alterations.
Oxford were in control from the very first sin, setting immediately that West Ham weren’t in the perfect frame of mind to confront a decrease league opponent chose to inflict a jolt.
Robinson might have feared that the first-half misses from Brannagan and Forde may haunt thembut they won in a canter and it wouldn’t have been unfair had they appreciated an even larger success margin.
Oxford have scored 10 goals without reply in their previous two matches and this scoreline has been a more than true reflection of the gulf between the two sides.
Baptiste was outstanding in midfield, the veteran Mackie was a threat throughout and it is huge credit to Robinson and his players that they took a backward step once Moore place them ahead 10 minutes following the break.
Oxford continued to become more bold and move in search for goals, and the celebrations on and off the pitch at the final whistle were fully deserved.
This was a night of pity for West Ham, but it would be a insult and injustice to downgrade the quality of Oxford’s functionality that brought this outstanding victory.
“We had the belief in ourselves that we can get a result,” Robinson explained. “I’m on the moon for the fans and the players.
“It’s about the players, on the fans and around the community of Oxfordshire and also the major thing for me today is the people who came here for the very first time in a long time, they purchase a ticket and come on Saturday [for the Celtics match against Gillingham].”
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