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By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Kassam Stadium
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini took obligation as League One Oxford United bundled out of their Carabao Cup in manner his side.
The Hammers arrived in the Kassam Stadium on the back of an outstanding triumph over Manchester United to reach the peaks of fifth in the Premier League, but Karl Robinson’s side superbly outplayed and then over-powered their illustrious competitors, who ended a complete shambles.
Oxford, now 12th in League One, were high on optimism after a record-breaking 6-0 win in Lincoln City in the weekend and this was a famous and merited triumph.
“The entire team didn’t play nicely. Not only did we concede four goals, but we didn’t create too many opportunities,” Pellegrini said.
“We missed too many passes from the beginning and the responsibility will be on me because I chose the gamers, and also second on the team which didn’t compete.
“It’s easy to say that we played quite poorly, however Oxford did whatever they had to win this game. They played with a lot of motivation, with desire and we didn’t play nicely.”
Both sides fielded sides and the only surprise was West Ham before conceding after 55 minutes when Roberto was taken across by central defender Elliott Moore, survived for so long.
Oxford, that missed clear chances in the first half by Cameron Brannagan and Anthony Forde, nearly increased their lead instantly as Roberto saved brilliantly from Jamie Mackie.
But there was no escape for West Ham as substitute Matty Taylor turned with 19 seconds in Mark Sykes’ cross.
Heal Tariqe Fosua hat-trick hero in Lincoln City, hurried clear from the halfway line to score with terrific composure after 84 minutes to extinguish any hopes of a West Ham comeback.
The agony was not over for West Ham boss Pellegrini along with his abject facet as Shandon Baptiste deservedly restricted a man-of-the-match showing with a classy fourth.
Oxford sponsor fellow League One side Sunderland, who won 1-0 at Sheffield United, in the fourth round in the week commencing 28 October.
“Looking in the scoreboard – 4-0 against West Ham and an extremely powerful West Ham – that will probably go down as one of the biggest results at the Kassam in the past few years,” Oxford manager Robinson explained.
The EFL Cup represented a realistic opportunity for West Ham to win a trophy, but Pellegrini lacked this jolt by making nine adjustments, leaving out danger guys Sebastien Haller along with Felipe Anderson.
He reduced the price since the Hammers produced a distressed display, much to the aggravation of the fans that packed a single corner of the three-sided scene.
West Ham were lethargicoff the pace and apparently complacent since they were hustled from their stride as the track-suited Pellegrini failed to inspire his team.
He maintained Haller back till they were down a goal but after which the momentum had been flowing in the direction of Oxford, that must have inflicted even deeper punishment since they ran riot towards the end.
Jack Wilshere wasted an opportunity to stake a claim as he had been over-run from the energy of Baptiste. Wilshere seemed a spent force in comparison.
It was reminiscent of West Ham’s loss 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 into this match once Oxford went forward.
West Ham have revealed evidence of stability and improvement in the Premier League, which was a modified line-up, however their performance was inexcusable and the plaudits have to go to the underdogs.
“I thought it was a poor performance from everyone,” said Hammers captain Zabaleta.
“We are feeling sorry about the performance tonight and accountable to the away fans who reached the match. It was just a bad night.”
This contest gave Oxford the greatest day in their history when they beat QPR in Wembley in 1986 – which really can be a night that will even live in the memory of the jubilant fans.
West Ham made adjustments but, for context, Oxford director Robinson also made six adjustments and his group dealt much better with those alterations.
Oxford were in control from the very first sin, feeling immediately that West Ham were not in the ideal frame of mind to confront a decrease league opponent chose to inflict a jolt.
Robinson may have feared the first-half misses from Brannagan and Forde may infect them, but they won at a canter and it wouldn’t have been unfair had they appreciated an even greater success margin.
Oxford have scored 10 goals without reply in their past two games and this scoreline was a greater than accurate reflection of this gulf between the 2 sides.
Baptiste was outstanding in midfield, the veteran Mackie was a danger throughout and it is enormous credit to Robinson and his players that they never took a backward step after Moore place them ahead 10 minutes following the rest.
Oxford continued to be bold and go in search for targets, and the celebrations on and off the pitch at the final whistle were totally deserved.
This was a night of pity for West Ham, but it could be an insult and dedication to downgrade the quality of Oxford’s functionality that brought this phenomenal success.
“We had the belief in ourselves that we could get a result,” Robinson stated. “I’m over the moon for the fans and the players.
“It’s all about the players, on the fans and also around the neighborhood of Oxfordshire and the significant factor for me today is the men and women who came here for the very first time in a long time, that they purchase a ticket and come back on Saturday [for the Celtics game against Gillingham].”
Read more here: http://thevapejoint.info/uncategorized/arizona-diamondbacks-vs-san-francisco-giants-mlb-pick-monday-august-26th/