Oxford United have been in ridiculously good form for the past three months or so, but will hope they've got something special left in the tank for tonight's mouthwatering Carabao Cup quarter final against Man City - who knocked them out of the competition at the Third Round stage last season.
A packed-out Kassam Stadium will be expecting plenty of goals from two of the three highest scorers in English football this season (1. Oxford, 2. Peterborough, 3. Man City...), and we caught up with two Oxford fan accounts @_theoxford and @YellowArmyOUFC to test enthusiasm and gauge optimism ahead of tonight's clash against the Premier League champions and reigning Carabao Cup holders...
1. Your boss Karl Robinson has said you have a 1% chance of beating Man City in your Carabao Cup quarter-final tonight? Is he underplaying your chances...or being generous?
Yellow Army: A bit of both. Karl often talks like a fan and fans everywhere will say we have no chance. We know though that this Oxford United side will be up for it and anything is possible. Manchester City are a top, top side. We have a good team who play attacking football, so it should be a good game.
TheOxford: 1% sounds harsh, but there's no denying it's a slim chance.
2. Three questions in one: How good were City in your 3-0 loss to them in the same competition last season? Which players/features of their play stood? What lessons can you learn from that game?
YA: Last season City played a very strong side. Phil Foden scored his first goal for City and they played very well. Karl will know how daunting the challenge is, but with the knowledge from last season and the form City have been in, Oxford will know there will be chances.
We have been hit with injuries, and have a big game on Saturday, so both managers might be guessing who will play.
TO: City were good last year. Foden stood out. I believe it was one of his first games and you could see he's going to be a player. I think we frustrated City last year, we held our own with a side most Oxford fans would agree is not as good as our current side. Lessons to learn? We've got to be extremely clinical. No room for error, if we don't score the likelihood is they will, and their goals will come in 2s or 3s.
3. Last weekend's defeat to MK Dons aside, Oxford's form after a tricky August has been sensational. No team has scored more goals than The U's across all domestic competitions and your clean sheet stats are also mighty impressive. Where can you hurt City tonight?
YA: Recently City have been undone by teams who get in behind quickly. With their injuries, Karl and the players will fancy us to get in behind them with the pace and skill we have in our team.
TO: It's no secret that City aren't as good defensively as they were last year, and with Fosu on the counter, his pace running at players, there's every chance. By the sounds of it, Robinson wants to treat it as a league game and attack them, which will go one of two ways...
4. Midfield lynchpin Cameron Brannagan played 80 minutes last weekend on his return from injury - how did he look, and how important a figure is he for you tonight?
YA: Cameron had a quiet game, but that is understandable after his time out. He is an exceptional player and having him back is a huge boost for us. He is really up for the game and hopefully we will see the best of him again.
TO: He wasn't himself, you could see that. Not many players are straight back from injury and he wasn't fully fit. We've got to hope tonight he's as good as we know he can be because he is some player. And always an important figure for us.
5. Oxford won the Milk Cup back in 1986 when they were a First Division outfit. Can U's fans feel the good times coming back under Karl Robinson?
YA: Absolutely. Karl is making a real impression on our fans and the amount he cares is great to see. This season we have played some sensational football and have seen memorable results. There is a real feel good factor around Oxfordshire and we are all hopeful that more good times aren't too far away.
TO: The stats speak for themselves, we've managed to turn ourselves both defensively and goalscoring wise into one of the most dangerous teams in the 92 playing some of the best football I've ever seen us play. It certainly feels like something special is on the horizon.
6. Finally, with Jim Smith passing away last week, does the game take on even greater significance for the club? Are you expecting a special atmosphere tonight?
YA: Firstly, our thoughts are with the family of Jim Smith. He is an Oxford United LEGEND, someone who means so much to the people of Oxfordshire. His passing hurt us all deeply, but we remember fondly all the amazing memories he created at our club.
There will be a more formal tribute from fans in the future, but tonight we will create a special atmosphere in honour of the Great Bald Eagle.
TO: Definitely, hopefully it'll be a big send off, to recognise everything he's done for the club. I believe something is planned and the atmosphere, result or not should be buzzing.
Thanks to both @_theoxford and @YellowArmyOUFC for their time. Go give them both a follow on Twitter!
We. Are. Ready!
— Oxford United FC (@OUFCOfficial) December 18, 2019
Who’s joining us later? #OUFC pic.twitter.com/THNAeROiH7
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Matty Taylor 46' | João Cancelo 22' Raheem Sterling 50' 70' |
