West Ham youngsters blew their chance in 'embarrassing defeat' to Wigan says Sam Allardyce

West Ham slumped to defeat against Wigan (GETTY IMAGES)

Sam Allardyce has told the fringe players who played in last night's “embarrassing” loss to Wigan that they have blown a big chance of breaking in to the West Ham starting XI for Monday's clash against QPR.

Allardyce made nine changes to the team that drew with Sunderland, allowing the likes of James Tomkins, George McCartney and Jordan Spence to prove that they deserved a call-up to the first XI, but the Hammers defence put on a terrible performance to allow Wigan to cruise to a 4-1 win in the third round of the Capital One Cup.

The Hammers back four marked poorly, backed off Wigan attackers and gave the ball away all too easily to leave Allardyce fuming at the final whistle.

He said: "I made lots of changes to see what the squad looks like and what some of the young ones are doing. They are doing well in the under-21s league but unfortunately from 15 minutes onwards they weren't good enough and in the end we have got beat 4-1 and it was very disappointing for me to sit there and watch that.

"It was an embarrassing defeat. They can't come knocking on my door about not playing now. They've got to take responsibility for their performance.

"They should have given me a lot more value for my money than they did."

Poor marking from Spence allowed Mauro Boselli to equalise Modibo Maiga's opener and the Hammers defence backed off Ivan Ramis to allow the Spaniard to make it 2-1.

Yet more loose marking gave Boselli room to chip home a wonderful third and Stephen Henderson's foul on James McArthur in the dying minutes meant Jordi Gomez sealed the rout.

"We couldn't defend a fish supper tonight," the West Ham boss said. "There were howling errors from our defenders in all four goals, it was comical.

"I never expected us to defend so poorly. It was really poor defending and all the good work we might have done with the ball meant nothing in the end because out of possession we were just rubbish."

Martinez cut a much happier figure at the end of the game, with Boselli's performance the main source of joy for the Latics boss.

Derided for scoring two goals in two years at the Lancashire club, the Argentinean did little to appease his critics when he missed a sitter in the club's 2-1 defeat to Fulham on Saturday.

The 27-year-old, who has been shipped out on loan to former club Estudiantes and Italian side Genoa during his time with Wigan, showed great predatory instincts to steal ahead of Spence for his first and the chip over Henderson from 12 yards was a sublime finish.

Martinez said: "He looked strong, he looked very sharp with his build-up play and then that clinical finishing in front of goal.

"I was very, very pleased with his work. It is now a matter of allowing him to settle into the Barclays Premier League.

"He showed mental strength and how focused he is to be a success this season and to enjoy his football. If he is at his best he will be a real asset for us."

PA