KARL Robinson was delighted his decision to rotate the Oxford United side paid off as a much-changed team thumped West Ham in the Carabao Cup.

The U's boss made six alterations to the starting XI that played against Lincoln City on Saturday, but the new side picked up where their teammates left off with a 4-0 win.

It gave the manager a selection headache ahead of Saturday's Sky Bet League One game against Gillingham, with Robinson pleased his changes came to fruition.

He said: “I’m here to make sure my team are fit for Saturday as well. We have to make decisions as managers and coaches and sometimes you live and die by them.

“It’s a win we have to tick off and get ourselves ready for Saturday.

“I don’t get too carried away, it’s about making sure we click and find a rhythm and that we’re not a Jekyll and Hyde team."

The average age of United's starting XI was a touch over 25, with 21-year-old Shandon Baptiste and Elliott Moore, 22, among those starring.

He added: “I said before the game that we’ve got some Premier League youngsters in our team. I think our average age was younger than West Ham’s.

“We’ve got a young team with tremendous growth. I keep speaking about the academy and the young players we’re bringing in and I can’t ask anymore from my players.”