West Ham United, Manchester City and the Carabao Cup
The Carabao Cup not only provided a strong cup run for the U’s, but it also produced memorable results. It started off with a 1-0 win over Peterborough United. However, it looked like the cup run would be over in the second round when Millwall led the game 2-0 with five minutes remaining.
Mark Sykes reduced the deficit late on before Henry converted from the spot after Ben Woodburn was fouled in the box. Henry, George Thorne, Woodburn and skipper John Mousinho all converted as the tie went to penalties, with Simon Eastwood making one save as the U’s progressed 4-2.
The game ended a three-game losing run in the league, and their next encounter in the cup would come just days after their record win at Lincoln. Premier League outfit West Ham United would visit the Kassam Stadium in the third round.
The game was goalless at half time against a Hammers side that were fifth in the league, but the U’s ran riot in the second half to advance in the competition. Elliott Moore, Taylor, Fosu and Shandon Baptiste were all on the score sheet.
The third round brought another League One encounter. Sunderland came to town but a Rob Hall strike sent the game to a penalty shootout after the game ended 1-1. Like against Millwall, the U’s progressed 4-2. Eastwood stopped one and Will Grigg fired over for Sunderland, with Henry, Anthony Forde, Fosu and Mousinho all netting for the U’s.
The quarter-final brought another Premier League side to the Kassam. Current holders Manchester City would be the visitors, as they were the season before where they ran out 3-0 winners. The U’s would lose this game but it was a brilliant performance from Robinson’s side. City took the lead but Taylor equalised just after the restart to send the sell-out crowd into bedlam. Despite losing 3-1, the U’s had 18 shots on goal – the most City had faced in any game managed by Pep Guardiola. The Citizens boss was full of praise of the U’s after the game and the players could hold their heads high after reaching the last eight for the first time since 1988.
