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By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Kassam Stadium
As League One Oxford United bundled out of their Carabao Cup in humiliating fashion his side west Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini took duty.
The Hammers arrived in the Kassam Stadium on the rear of an outstanding win over Manchester United to reach the heights of fifth in the Premier League, however, Karl Robinson’s side superbly outplayed and over-powered their illustrious opponents, who finished a whole shambles.
Oxford, now 12th in League One, were high on optimism after a record-breaking 6-0 triumph at Lincoln City in the weekend and that is a famous and merited triumph.
“The whole 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 moves from the beginning and the responsibility will be on me since I picked the gamers, and second on the staff which didn’t compete.
“It’s simple to say we played very poorly, but Oxford did whatever they needed to win this match. They played with a great deal of motivation, with desire and we did not play nicely.”
Both sides much-changed sides and the only surprise was West Ham endured for so long before conceding after 55 minutes when Oxford central defender Elliott Moore shot across Roberto.
Oxford, who missed clear chances in the first half by Cameron Brannagan and Anthony Forde, nearly increased their lead promptly as Roberto saved brilliantly from Jamie Mackie.
However, there was no escape for West Ham as substitute Matty Taylor switched into Mark Sykes’ cross with 19 minutes .
Heal Tariqe Fosua hat-trick enthusiast in Lincoln City, raced clear from the halfway line to score with fantastic composure after 84 minutes to extinguish any hopes of a West Ham comeback.
The agony was not over yet for West Ham boss Pellegrini along with his abject facet as Shandon Baptiste deservedly capped a man-of-the-match showing with a fourth.
Oxford host fellow League One side Sunderland, who won 1-0 at Sheffield United, from the fourth round in the week beginning 28 October.
“Looking at the scoreboard – 4-0 from West Ham and a very strong West Ham – this will probably go down as one of the biggest results at the Kassam in recent decades,” Oxford manager Robinson stated.
The EFL Cup represented a realistic prospect for West Ham to win a prize, but Pellegrini lacked this jolt by making nine changes, leaving out danger guys Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson.
He paid the price since the Hammers produced a distressed screen, much to the aggravation of the fans that packed one corner of this three-sided stadium.
West Ham were slow off the speed and apparently complacent as they were hustled from the stride since the track-suited Pellegrini didn’t inspire his group.
He kept Haller back till they were down a goal but by then the momentum was flowing in the direction of Oxford, who must have inflicted even deeper punishment as they ran riot to the end.
Jack Wilshere wasted an chance to stake a claim as he was over-run by the power of Baptiste. Wilshere looked a spent force in contrast.
This was reminiscent of West Ham’s loss at League One AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup fourth round last season since they lacked heart and stomach for the battle, surrendering without suggesting for one moment they would get into this game once Oxford went ahead.
West Ham have revealed indications of stability and improvement from the Premier League, which was a modified line-up, but their performance was inexcusable and all the plaudits have to go to the underdogs.
“I believed it was a bad performance from everybody,” explained Hammers captain Zabaleta.
“We all feel sorry about the performance tonight and accountable to the off fans who reached the match. It was just a bad night.”
This competition gave Oxford the greatest day in their history if they beat QPR at Wembley in 1986 – and this can be a night that will even live long in the memory of their jubilant fans.
West Ham made changes however, for circumstance, Oxford director Robinson also made six adjustments and his team dealt much better with these alterations.
Oxford were in control from the very first whistle, feeling immediately that West Ham were not in the ideal frame of mind to face a decrease league competitor chose to inflict a shock.
Robinson might have feared the first-half misses from Brannagan and Forde may haunt thembut they won in a canter and it would not have been unfair had they appreciated an even greater victory margin.
Oxford have now scored 10 goals without reply in their previous two matches and this scoreline has been a greater than accurate reflection of this gulf between the 2 sides.
Baptiste was outstanding at midfield, the veteran Mackie had been a threat throughout and it is enormous charge to Robinson and his players they took a backward step after Moore place them forward 10 minutes following the rest.
Oxford continued to be bold and go in search for targets, and the parties on and off the pitch at the final whistle were completely deserved.
This was a night of pity for West Ham, but it would be an insult and dedication to downgrade the quality of Oxford’s performance that attracted this outstanding victory.
“We had the belief in ourselves that we can get a result,” Robinson said. “I am over the moon for the fans and the players.
“It’s about the players, on the fans and also about the community of Oxfordshire and the big factor for me now is that the folks who came here for the first time in a long time, they buy a ticket and return on Saturday [for the league game against Gillingham].”
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