There has been an agonising case of deja vu for West Ham United fans in the Carabao Cup Third Round draw.
The Hammers are tasked with a trip to the Kassam Stadium to face League One side Oxford United in the week commencing 23 September.
It could have been a completely different prospect though, with bitter rivals Millwall 2-0 up against Oxford with just three minutes to go in the second round.
That lead was squandered though, and the U’s went on to triumph in a penalty shoot-out.
Which means, with the balls for the draw numbered by tie, West Ham have agonisingly missed out on facing Millwall for a second straight season.
The Irons’ 4-2 defeat at AFC Wimbledon in the fourth round of last term’s FA Cup was bad enough, but the Dons facing the Lions in the next round worsened the blow.
Although a clash with League One opposition seems very favourable, plenty of West Ham fans are venting their frustration on social media…
Twitter: @WestHam Would of been millwall If they had held on
(@Adam1991Turner)
Twitter: @WestHam Would of been millwall if they didn’t bottle it (@SamStudd1)
Twitter: @WestHam YOU JUST KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN (@WhufcLdn)
Twitter: @WestHam Imagine the scenes if that was Millwall (@COYI_Joe)
Twitter: @WestHam Bound to happen
(@darylwhu)
READ WEST HAM’S VERDICT
While Hammers supporters will be full of regret, the Met Police certainly won’t…
The uproar on Millwall’s ‘bottle job’ raises a major question though – would the fanbase rather face a favourable tie against Oxford or reignite the rivalry with their old foes in the risk of losing bragging rights?
Both sides last met at Upton Park back in 2012, with West Ham winning the Championship clash 2-1.
The Hammers haven’t been defeated by Millwall since 2004, so it’s a real shame the rivalry has been so close, yet so far to be revisited.
Maybe in the FA Cup, right?
