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By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Kassam Stadium
West Ham director Manuel Pellegrini took responsibility as his side have been bundled out of their Carabao Cup in 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, but Karl Robinson’s side beautifully outplayed and over-powered their illustrious opponents, who ended a whole shambles.
Oxford, currently 12th in League One, were high on optimism following a record-breaking 6-0 triumph at Lincoln City in the weekend and this is a famous and merited triumph.
“The entire team did not play well. Did we concede four goals, but we didn’t create too many chances,” Pellegrini said.
“We missed too many passes from the beginning and also the obligation is first on me because I chose the gamers, and second on the staff that didn’t compete.
“It’s easy to say that we played quite poorly, but Oxford did what they needed to win this match. They played with a great deal of motivation, together 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 Roberto was taken across by central defender Elliott Moore, really endured for so long.
Oxford, who missed clear chances in the first half by Cameron Brannagan and Anthony Forde, nearly increased their lead immediately as Roberto saved brilliantly from Jamie Mackie.
However, there was no escape for West Ham as replacement Matty Taylor turned with 19 seconds in Mark Sykes’ cross.
Substitute Tariqe Fosua hat-trick enthusiast at Lincoln City, raced clear from the halfway line to score with good 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 classy fourth.
Oxford host fellow League One side Sunderland, who won 1-0 at Sheffield United, in the fourth round at the week commencing 28 October.
“Looking at the scoreboard – 4-0 against West Ham and a very powerful West Ham – that will probably go down as one of the biggest results in the Kassam in the last several years,” Oxford boss Robinson said.
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 men Sebastien Haller and Felipe Anderson.
He paid the price since the Hammers made a distressed display, much to the annoyance of the fans who packed a single corner of the three-sided stadium.
West Ham were slow off the speed and apparently complacent since they were hustled from the stride since the track-suited Pellegrini failed to inspire his group.
He kept Haller back till they were a goal down but after the momentum has been flowing in the direction of Oxford, who ought to have inflicted even deeper punishment since they ran riot to the end.
Jack Wilshere squandered an opportunity to stake a claim as he had been over-run by the power of Baptiste. 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 as they lacked heart and stomach for the battle, surrendering without implying for a minute they would get into this match after Oxford went forward.
West Ham have revealed evidence of stability and advancement in the Premier League, and this was an altered line-up, however their functionality was inexcusable and all the plaudits should go to the underdogs.
“I believed it was a bad performance from everyone,” said Hammers captain Zabaleta.
“We all feel sorry about the performance tonight and sorry to the away fans who came to the match. It was a bad night.”
This competition gave Oxford the best day in their history when they beat QPR in Wembley in 1986 – which really is a night that will even live in the memory of the jubilant fans.
West Ham made changes however, for context, Oxford manager Robinson also made six changes and his team coped much better with these alterations.
Oxford were in control from the first sin, setting immediately that West Ham were not in the ideal frame of mind to confront a decrease league competitor chose to inflict a jolt.
Robinson might have feared that the first-half misses from Brannagan and Forde may infect thembut they won at a canter and it wouldn’t have been unjust had they appreciated an even greater success margin.
Oxford have now scored 10 goals without reply in their past two games and this scoreline was a greater than accurate reflection of this gulf between the two sides.
Baptiste was outstanding at midfield, the veteran Mackie was a danger throughout and it’s huge charge to Robinson and his players that they took a backward step after Moore put them forward 10 minutes after the rest.
Oxford continued to become more bold and move in search of targets, along with the parties on and off the pitch in the final whistle were completely deserved.
This was a night of shame 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 impression in ourselves which we can get a result,” Robinson said. “I’m over the moon for those fans and the players.
“It’s all about the players, on the fans and also about the community of Oxfordshire and the big thing for me now is the folks who came here for the very first time in quite a while, that they purchase a ticket and come on Saturday [for the league game against Gillingham].”
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