From one extreme to another, United followed Saturday’s 7-1 Barclays Premier League hammering of Blackburn Rovers with a disjointed 4-0 Carling Cup quarter-final defeat away to West Ham, surrendering the Reds’ two-year grip on the trophy and ending a 29-game unbeaten run in all competitions for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.
West Ham, playing with the shackles off from their struggles against relegation in the league, looked hungrier and certainly more organised than United, who could conjure none of the verve and magic of the weekend’s demolition of Sam Allardyce’s side, and instead at times seemed intent only on defensive self-destruction.
Despite United’s success in this competition in recent years it still does not top the list of priorities, but that will not soften the blow of a frustrating and disappointing night in East London as United missed out on a 13th appearance in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
For the trip to a snow-capped Upton Park, Sir Alex made ten changes from the team that so freely took Blackburn apart at Old Trafford, with only Anderson surviving from the weekend’s starting XI. Although there was widespread change in the United ranks, the team still boasted plenty of senior men, with Anderson joined in central midfield by Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher.
An early flurry of West Ham possession quickly gave way to a spell of United dominance, and the Reds had the first chance after seven minutes following a series of raids down the right side. After several attempted crosses, John O’Shea’s sidefooted ball found Gabriel Obertan. The Frenchman took two touches to create space for a shot, which Rob Green brilliantly tipped onto the post. Javier Hernandez slid in at the far post for the rebound, but James Tomkins beat the Mexican to the ball.
United appeared in total control, both midfield and defence confidently keeping possession. But on 17 minutes Jonathan Spector, playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, went on a surging, unchallenged run through the centre of the park. He squared the ball to Victor Obinna on the edge of the area and continued his run, but Obinna’s shot struck Spector – now in an offside position – as it deflected past Tomasz Kuszczak. The West Ham players and supporters all celebrated, but the linesman’s flag was up for offside. The decision was completely correct, but a perceived sense of injustice galvanised the home side and within five minutes they legitimately had the lead, via the same combination of players. Obinna, a potent and lively threat all night, twisted and turned before lofting a pass into the area, which Spector glanced past a stranded Kuszczak.
The Reds looked shaken, West Ham were stirred. In midfield United looked overrun, while defensively Sir Alex’s men appeared unsettled. The boss made a move to address the balance of the team by switching his full-backs; Fabio moved to the right and O’Shea to the left.
Just after the half-hour mark on a now rare foray forward, Chicharito crossed to the far post for Giggs, but the Welshman’s free header was straight at Green rather than making him work. But it was by no means a Reds resurgence. On 37 minutes Spector, who made eight appearances starting out his career with the Reds, was again allowed to break forward from midfield. As United failed to clear the ball, Spector gleefully pounced for his second goal of the game and United went in at the break 2-0 down.
Sir Alex had no choice but to make a change at half time. Bebe was sacrificed as the Reds switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Federico Macheda joining Chicharito up front; Obertan subsequently moved to the right and Giggs took up his new post on the left. There immediately seemed more purpose and structure to United’s play as the Reds pinned West Ham into their defensive third.
But once again United’s early dominance in the half was undone by soft defensive errors. A ball down the left channel allowed Obinna far too much room to cross, and Cole attacked the ball, beating Evans to reach it and nod past Kuszczak to make it 3-0, further loosening United’s grip on the Carling Cup.
The snow continued to pelt down at Upton Park, but this was no picture postcard performance from the Reds, with seemingly very little to warm the travelling United fans. And it only got worse. After 66 minutes, Obinna again provided the cross for Cole to make it 4-0. This time it was Rafael, on for his brother Fabio, that Obinna got the better of, while Cole again got in front of Evans to beat Kuszczak with a left-footed strike into the far corner.
Hernandez clipped the top of the bar with a right-foot effort, a rare attempt on goal in the second half, after 74 minutes. But there was no joy on a night to forget. United’s silverware must come from other sources this season.
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