Grant searches for morale boost with visit of Oxford United
Published:League Two side Oxford United provided one of the many shocks that the Carling Cup first round bestowed upon us when they dumped League One side Bristol Rovers out of the completion with a 6-1 victory at the Kassam stadium.
With a 4-1 lead at half time, Oxford have had no problems finding the back of the net as of yet this season, which is stark contrast to their Premier League opponents West Ham who have scored just the one penalty this term.
Despite a 0-0 draw at the weekend, Oxford will go to Upton Park full of confidence, regardless of what their 7/1 odds suggest, knowing they have nothing to lose against a West Ham side who are yet to find their way under new manager Avram Grant.
After his penalty miss and the boo’s that bounded around Upton Park after his substitution in the defeat to Bolton at the weekend, Carlton Cole will be looking to bounce back quickly and in Oxford United, he should be able to parade some of the ability that has seen him linked with a move to Liverpool.
Cole is 3/1 to open the scoring at Upton Park and Oxford should be weary of a player who is out for redemption.
Oxford’s only away victory over West Ham was a 1-0 victory in 1987 and in the 15 meetings that the sides have contested, two of these ended in a draw, a result Oxford would crave financially with the lure of a sell-out in the event West Ham were to visit the Kassam stadium.
West Ham have the class to see off their League Two opposition and the Hammer fans should go home with something to cheer for the first time this season. See the full West Ham vs Oxford United match betting odds market here.
