Man City Match Zone

Images: This Is The Closest Oxford United Will Get To The Carabao Cup

|

The last and only time Oxford United won the League Cup was back in the day when the FA’s sponsors named the competition the Milk Cup.

In front of over 90,000 Wembley spectators, the U’s beat Queens Park Rangers 3-0. In those days men walked around with mullets, and the Bangles were in the charts singing Manic Monday.

The year was 1986, and the League Cup rules at the time stated that if the game ended in a draw, the teams would have to replay the final at the national stadium. Also, the clubs could name and field only ONE substitute. Sounds crazy these days doesn’t make it.

Although Oxford was crowned champions they were denied access to the UEFA Cup as at the time English clubs were banned from taking part in UEFA sanctioned European games (Heysel disaster the year earlier). International matches were excluded from the ban.

The here and now

Currently taking part, and struggling in England’s third tier United have the opportunity to forget their league woes, if only for a day and focus on scalping last seasons Carabao Cup winners Manchester City.

This Is The Closest Oxford United Will Get To The Carabao Cup

The headline means no malice whatsoever to manager Karl Robinson’s team. If anything it’s a tongue in cheek comment – I wish Oxford the best and hope they make a few quid out of the tie.

Talking to the U’s official website, Robinson said…

“I’m looking forward to it, we all are. We will try and take the game to them when we can. If a chance comes, then you have to take it. We create more chances than the opposition in a lot of games but don’t take them. On Tuesday night it will be role reversal because we will have the lower number of opportunities, less possession and we have to make the most of what we have.

“It’s going to be busy around the ground but the Oxford fans turn out in big numbers when there is an occasion like this and they will wear their yellow shirts with pride. I’m not overly proud right now about some of the results we have accumulated but that will turn. Amazing things can happen if you believe in yourself and in the people around you.

“We have immense belief in each other here. I can’t promise you that we can put recent results right against Manchester City but let’s enjoy the occasion and if the result is anywhere near positive then it will be a great story for everybody involved.”

Head to head (League and FA Cup)

Oxford – 5 wins

MCFC – 6 wins

There have been two draws.

Last time out

Season 1997/98 – League Division 1

Manchester City 0-2 Oxford United.

May the best team win?

Share this article