PREVIEW Oxford United v Newcastle United

A full guide to tonight's big FA Cup replay

4 February 2020

Oxford United welcome Newcastle United in the Emirates FA Cup tonight.

TEAM NEWS
United are without top scorer James Henry who felt a reaction after returning to the side on Saturday after a thigh injury. Karl Robinson is hoping that Henry will be fit again for Saturday's Sky Bet League 1 game at Peterborough but has options in that position with Jamie Hanson, George Thorne and Liam Kelly all fit again.

Further forward Dan Agyei returns to the squad in place of Henry while Matty Taylor was on the bench for Saturday's win over Blackpool.

See Karl Robinson and Alex Gorrin looking ahead to the game in iFollow right now.

THE OPPOSITION
Steve Bruce has signed Danny Rose and Valentino Lazaro since the first game but neither are eligible for the replay since they were not available for the first match.

“We will slightly freshen us up" he told the press yesterday. “The two lads that made their debuts on Saturday, Danny Rose and Valentino Lazaro, can’t play. Unfortunately they weren’t signed before the first game, which is annoying because it would have been an ideal game for them.

“Oxford are a decent side. They have lost two of their players to Brentford so that will hinder them I’m sure but they are a good side. It’s live on the TV and they’ll want the underdogs to turn us over, so we have to be wary of that.

“If we can go and get to the Fifth Round this week and be on 31 points, I think we’d have accepted that, no matter how we got there."

TICKETS

A handful of tickets remain, but only individual seats rather than two together. Normal League prices apply for this fixture with no discount for members and tickets go off sale at 3pm. There will be none available on the night

Remaining tickets are available in person and over the telephone (01865 337533) or online at oufctickets.co.uk

Cup tickets are not available from the shop in the Covered Market.

The Gaffer

The Programme

GETTING HERE

With traffic expected to be heavy on approaches to the stadium and parking in the vicinity full early, the club has organised a park and ride facility from Unipart, Garsington Road.

There are a limited number of tickets to use this service which must be purchased in advance and these are priced at £3 (£1.50 for Under 16s) and are available online CLICK HERE and from the ticket office.

The first bus departs from Unipart at 5.45pm and then every 12 minutes until 7.45pm with buses returning from Knights Road after the final whistle until 10.46pm. This will be later in the event of the match going to extra time or penalties.

Football Special Buses

The OX3 football special bus will be operating from Carterton, Brize Norton, Witney, Eynsham and Botley. There is an additional bus running on this route.

The OX2 is NOT running though since it is not licensed with the traffic commissioners for evening matches

The OX7 from Kidlington, Summertown, Marston and Headington will also operate.

Bus departure times are the same as for a 7.45pm kick-off even though the actual kick off is later.

Full details are HERE

FAMILY

The Family Room is open for this game with player visits and we have a full Family Guide to games available here: OUFCFamily.pdf

SENSORY ROOM
We are proud to have a bespoke Sensory Room for fans under 23 who maybe need to take a little time out on a matchday with our fully trained helpers. Just ask a steward if you would like to use it or email Supporter Liaison Officer Kath Faulkner for more details: kfaulkner@oufc.co.uk

PARKING

There are circa 2,000 free parking spaces at the stadium but with another big crowd expected we ask everyone to arrive early and park legally

Away fans- Please park in the West car park - the one closest to the cinema and bowling complex at the fence end of the ground.

The pedestrian crossing point by Vue cinema will be managed time to enable a safe and manageable crossing for supporters as well as the flow of cars. We kindly ask for your assistance in co operating with staff in enabling us to facilitate this trial would be appreciated.

AWAY GUIDE

If you are a Newcastle fan travelling to the game then a full Supporters Guide is available here: OUFCAwayDayInfo.pdf

CLUB SHOP

The Club Shop is open and has everything to help you show your true colours tonight. Pop in before the game and help us turn the stadium yellow and blue.

COVERAGE

You can follow the whole game on twitter through @OUFCOfficial or on our Instagram page or here in our Match Centre, and of course the game is live on BBC 1 with kick off at 8.05

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT Oxford United Hearts Broken by Newcastle

FA Cup drama at the Kassam

4 February 2020

Oxford United's FA Cup adventure ended but only after a magnificent fightback at the Kassam Stadium this evening. First-half goals from Sean Longstaff and Joelinton looked to have sent Steve Bruce's side through to the last 16, but United refused to give up and Liam Kelly fired home a late free kick before Nathan Holland volleyed United level in injury time to force extra time. With penalties looming, United were then finally beaten when sub Allan Saint-Maximin scored a screamer to break their hearts.

The U's were solid and determined all evening and never fully out of the game at any stage but surely 2-0 down to a side from two divisions above was too much to recover from? Think again.

Team-wise, there was a return for Elliott Moore and Jamie Mackie after the league win over Blackpool on Saturday. Attitude-wise it was as at St James’ Park, with everyone aware of their roles, their distances from teammates and the need to be clever about when to commit men forward. Alex Gorrin, outstanding again, as in the first game, set the tone with three thunderous early challenges but in that game Newcastle didn’t turn early possession into a goal and this time they did.

In truth, United engineered their own downfall for the opener with a couple of looping headers rather than a thumping clearance, and when the ball ran to Sean Longstaff on the edge of the area he showed no mercy with a peach of a strike beyond the reach of Simon Eastwood to give the visitors the lead.

Joelinton should have doubled that lead but volleyed wide with the goal at his mercy, but on 29 minutes the Brazilian made amends with a goal full of power and pace.

It came from United’s free kick which was thrown into the Newcastle area but belted clear, well over half way and gave Joelinton a vital yard head start on Rob Dickie. The defender must have considered bringing him down and risking a red but Joelinton raced clear and then finished with a neat effort past the sprawling Eastwood. There was a foul on Browne in the build up but alas no VAR this time.

United needed a swift reply and nearly got it when Jamie Mackie swivelled and let fly, but keeper Karl Darlow somehow managed to save that and when Sam Long drilled the ball at goal moments later Jamaal Lascelles was in the right place to clear the ball from off the line.

Holland then volleyed a superb Sykes cross against the helpless Mackie rather than into the net. Three good chances not taken while the top-flight side had taken both of theirs: surely game over after 45 minutes?

Somehow, United regrouped and stayed in the game but hadn't really looked like getting their reward until sub Kelly sparked wild scenes and the greatest comeback United have ever managed at the Kassam Stadium.

They had created half chances; Ruffels and sub Matty Taylor almost found a way through the well-drilled visiting defence and then with six minutes left Kelly raised the roof with a magnificent free kick after fellow sub Dan Agyei had been felled 20 yards from goal.

Cue drama, tension and a proper FA Cup atmosphere as the fans rallied behind their side. Matty Longstaff steered a golden chance wide before Ruffels fired a good chance over the bar at the other end. United fell to their knees in frustration and must have thought their chance was gone...

No chance. Deep into injury time and with Eastwood up for a free kick, Holland showed great technique to volley a dropping ball through a packed six-yard box and somehow, improbably, forced the game into an extra 30 minutes.

The excellent Agyei almost made it 3-2 but couldn't get the ball out of his feet, Sykes was scythed down to produce another free kick which Kelly bent just wide but the ever-reliable Eastwood needed to make two good saves before everyone drew breath at half time in extra time.

Matty Longstaff had chances without making Eastwood work, Saint-Maximin did make the keeper save but it wasn't as if United were being overrun and slowly the realisation began to grow that penalties were on their way.

Hoowever, with tired legs and screaming lungs, United were finding the game stretched and with five minutes left, Saint-Maximin finally ended the game with a superb goal as he sprinted down the left, cut inside and finally found a way to get the ball past Eastwood.

A magnificent night and a game which rolled back the years to remind fans of the great Jim Smith side who beat Newcastle back in the 1980s amid similar drama. Huge credit to every one of the players who refused to take a step backwards and waved away any sense of an inevitable defeat. Wonderful game. Wonderful competition.

No shame in defeat at this stage and a heroic effort from all involved, but United had possibly missed their opportunity in the first game when they had chances to end it inside 90 minutes. Newcastle move on to play West Brom away in the last 16 and we wish them well after two keenly contested games.

For Oxford, one dream is packed away for another season.

On with the serious stuff. See you at Peterborough on Saturday.

Att: 11,520

Away: 1,779

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Daniels, Shutterstock and Tom Melvin

Match Reports

Ticket News

Fewer Than 100 Tickets Remain For Newcastle

FA Cup replay heading for sell out

3 February 2020

Oxford United's Emirates FA Cup replay against Newcastle United is heading for a sell out with fewer than 100 tickets remaining for Tuesday's game

Fewer than 100 tickets remained when the ticket office opened this morning for the U's game against Premier League side Newcastle United on Tuesday.

Normal League prices apply for this fixture with no discount for members.

Remaining tickets are available in person and over the telephone (01865 337533) or online at oufctickets.co.uk

Cup tickets are not available from the shop in the Covered Market. The OX3 & OX7 Football Special buses will operate as for a normal evening league match.

Oxford United

Standings

PREVIEW Oxford United v Newcastle United

The Gaffer

The Programme

REPORT Oxford United Hearts Broken by Newcastle

Fewer Than 100 Tickets Remain For Newcastle

Newcastle Tickets Go On Sale