Find out all you need to know ahead Oxford United's trip to Exeter City on Tuesday night.
WHEN AND WHERE
Aaron Ramsey's men return from the international break to take on Exeter City in the Jersey Mike's Trophy.
The match takes place at St James Park on Tuesday 6 October, kicking off at 7:00pm.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE GAME?
Video passes are available for international viewers by clicking the button below.
For our UK audience, audio streaming for this fixture is available exclusively with a Monthly or Seasonal Audio Pass.
Purchase a Monthly or Seasonal Audio Pass using the button below to listen to this weekend's match, plus all included audio coverage throughout your pass period.
You can keep up to date with the action with live updates via the Official Oxford United App, as well as the key moments on X and Instagram: @OUFCOfficial.
GET TO KNOW OUR OPPONENTS
Playing their football in Sky Bet League Two this season, Exeter City head into this fixture on the back of a 1-0 victory over Rotherham United at the weekend. The Grecians have made a slow start to the new campaign, but will be hoping that the result can provide the platform for a stronger run of form and help them climb the table in the coming weeks. The Jersey Mike’s Trophy also presents Exeter with another opportunity to build momentum. It is a competition in which they have enjoyed success in recent years, reaching the semi-finals in 2020 and progressing from the group stage in six of their previous nine campaigns.
Exeter City had spent the previous four seasons in League One before suffering relegation in 2026. They will be hoping to bounce back quickly, with ambitions of pushing towards the top half of the table and, ultimately, challenging for the promotion places as the season progresses. Leading that charge is manager Matt Taylor, who is widely regarded as a club legend. Taylor made more than 150 appearances for Exeter during his playing career and is now in his second spell in charge. His first stint as manager proved highly successful, as he guided the Grecians to promotion to League One.
HOW ARE BOTH TEAMS LOOKING SO FAR?
Oxford United boss Aaron Ramsey will be delighted with his side’s start to the season, with the U’s losing just one of their opening six league games. They currently sit in the top half of the table and, importantly, have at least two games in hand on every team above them, leaving them well placed to climb further in the coming weeks.
The 2026/27 campaign has also seen the emergence of young star Mo Missanga, alongside a return to form for the likes of Siriki Dembélé, Louie Sibley, Peter Kioso and Gatlin O’Donkor, all of whom featured only sparingly for the club last season. Despite an uncertain summer, Ramsey has overseen the development of a squad that has gelled together impressively, with a positive atmosphere now surrounding both the players and management team heading into the second phase of the campaign following the recent international break.
Their opponents, meanwhile, currently sit 20th in the League Two table, well below where they will be hoping to finish. However, Exeter City will take confidence from their 1-0 victory over Rotherham United at the weekend as they look to build some momentum and move up the standings.
The Grecians have made a far more encouraging start to their Jersey Mike’s Trophy campaign, having already played two group-stage fixtures. While United are yet to begin their campaign in the competition, Exeter have picked up four points from their opening two games, beating Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s 2-0 before drawing with Cheltenham Town. With the group still finely poised, Exeter will be looking to continue that positive run when the Yellows arrive.
WHO COULD PROVE TO BE THE KEY MEN FOR EACH TEAM?
This fixture could provide Oxford United boss Aaron Ramsey with the opportunity to hand a number of academy players valuable first-team minutes, with Leo Snowden among those hoping to earn a starting role. The 18-year-old first caught the attention of the U’s faithful during the club’s 2025 pre-season tour of Indonesia, where he impressed with a series of excellent performances.
However, a serious injury ruled Snowden out for the majority of the 2025/26 campaign. Now back to full fitness, the young attacker has already made a handful of appearances from the bench, while also making a significant impact off the bench with a superb assist away at Huddersfield Town. He will now be hoping for the opportunity to showcase his qualities from the start.
An energetic and versatile attacker capable of operating anywhere across the midfield and forward lines, Snowden is at his best when picking up possession and driving forward on the half-turn. That ability was on full display when he scored a superb goal for the academy against ProDirect Academy, a strike that was nominated for the club’s September Goal of the Month award.
Exeter City’s standout performer so far this season has been centre-back Jack Fitzwater. The West Bromwich Albion academy graduate, who joined the Grecians in 2023, has already found the net twice this campaign and has established himself as a key figure at the heart of the defence. The 29-year-old has consistently led from the front, providing an important presence through both the difficult and more positive periods of the season.
Fitzwater did not feature in either of Exeter’s opening two Jersey Mike’s Trophy fixtures, but with the Grecians likely to need a positive result on Tuesday evening to strengthen their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages, his experience and leadership could prove vital. He is therefore expected to feature in the starting XI for this game.
TEAM NEWS
The international break has provided several members of the Oxford United squad with valuable time to return to full fitness, while others have continued to make progress in their recoveries as they look to work their way back into the matchday squad following injury issues during the opening months of the season.
Ciaron Brown, Brodie Spencer, Mark Harris and Kai Andrews will be unavailable for this fixture, having been away on international duty with Northern Ireland and Wales respectively during the break.
In goal, Simon Eastwood is suspended for this match following the red card he received in the club’s last appearance in this competition in 2024. That leaves Ramsey with a decision to make between Jamie Cumming and young goalkeeper Monty Marriott as he looks to name his starting XI.
PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCES
You can watch the full Press Conferences of United Assistant Head Coach Chris Gunter and midfielder Louie Sibley by clicking the buttons below.
PREVIOUS MEETING & HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Exeter City are opponents Oxford United have become familiar with in recent years, with the two sides having met on several occasions across different competitions. Their most recent encounter came in the FA Cup third round at St James Park in January 2025, when the hosts secured a 3-1 victory. Matty Phillips gave the U’s an early lead, but a brace from Demetri Mitchell before half-time, followed by a second-half strike from Vincent Harper, turned the game around and sent the Grecians through to the next round.
Despite that defeat, United boast a strong recent record against Exeter, winning four of their last six meetings. The 2023/24 League One campaign saw the Yellows complete the double, recording a convincing 3-0 victory at the Kassam Stadium before following it up with a 2-1 win at St James Park.
One player who has particularly enjoyed this fixture is United captain Cam Brannagan, who has found the net five times against the Grecians throughout his career.
Last Five Matches | ||
Date | Result | Score |
11 January 2025 | L | Exeter City 3-1 Oxford United |
27 April 2024 | W | Exeter City 1-2 Oxford United |
23 September 2023 | W | Oxford United 3-0 Exeter City |
1 January 2023 | L | Oxford United 0-1 Exeter City |
26 November 2022 | W | Oxford United 4-1 Exeter City |
WHICH KIT WILL UNITED BE WEARING?
The team will be wearing the home kit for this fixture. Not got yours yet? Click the button below to buy today!
Landmark Collection
The 2026/27 Landmark Collection, a bespoke set of warm-up apparel to be worn by the Men’s and Women’s Teams throughout their pre-match preparations this season, is available to buy now!
Available as a quarter zip and jersey, the collection draws inspiration from Oxford Stone, the limestone quarried in Headington and used across many of the city’s iconic buildings.
Culture Inspires - Oxford United's 2026/27 Third Kit
Oxford United are proud to unveil the Club’s 2026/27 Third kit, the final release in the three-part Inspires Series.
Culture Inspires is about bringing people together through food, drink, conversation, fashion and the traditions we share.
The third shirt is dominated by navy blue, with a bright yellow horizontal chest band outlined in white. Yellow and white details also feature on the shoulders, sleeves and cuffs, creating a colour-reversed look inspired by the home kit.
Our Northern Ireland internationals recently went head-to-head in the Ultimate Quiz in a battle of the brains!
Who came out on top? Check out the video below to find out!
