United in pre-season action at Stadium MK in July 2018 (Photo: Darrell Fisher)

United are Up for the Cup this Friday as they travel to Stadium MK to take on the EFL’s least popular side.

United have a decent record against the Franchise side, having won five and drawn four of the teams’ 13 meetings. Away from home the U’s have won one and lost one, drawing four, but have outscored their opponents by a couple of goals.

The sides’ first meeting was in League One in 2016 in MK, the sides fighting out a goalless draw. The following season former Don Rob Hall scored United’s goal in a 1-1 draw, while the next encounter, in December 2019 resulted in Oxford’s only defeat so far to Milton Keynes as they went down 1-0.

In February 2021, in front of zero spectators because of the plague, the sides drew 1-1, and later on that year, in December, the Yellows gained their only away win so far against MK thanks to goals from Matty Taylor and Mark Sykes.

United’s last visit to Stadium MK resulted in a 1-1 draw, with Lewis Bate on target for the U’s.

You can see Oxford’s full record against MK Dons HERE.

On This Date

United generally do quite well on 9th January, EXCEPT AWAY FROM HOME. Of their four away games on this date, Oxford have drawn two and lost two.

The side’s most recent game on this date was away to MK’s great friends AFC Wimbledon two years ago. The real Dons winning 2-0 in one of those Checkapaint type games.

There was an FA Cup third-round tie at the Kassam Stadium three years ago, when Arsenal didn’t break into a sweat as they won 3-0. In 2018 the U’s drew 1-1 at the Valley in another of those lower league cup comps, winning the penalty shoot-out to set up an away tie at Stamford Bridge (you may recall the 36 spot kicks in the penalty shoot-out).

In 1982, a trip to Huddersfield Town in Division Three resulted in a 2-0 defeat for United, but the first time the Yellows played on this date, in 1954, Southern League Headington United drew 0-0 away at Third Division (North) Stockport County. Our boys won the replay to set up a home fourth-round tie against First Division giants Bolton Wanderers, featuring Nat Lofthouse among others. Needless to say, Headington lost 4-2 but in doing so they came to national attention, even featuring on a Pathe newsreel.

The Game

United will still be under the stewardship of Craig Short for this one, with a new manager set to be announced on Monday, perhaps. Last season, Gary Rowett’s side were humbled 3-1 at Exeter City after Matt Phillips had given the side the lead, with Tyler Goodrham getting himself sent off shortly after coming on as substitute.

Goodrham won’t be available this time as he suffered an injury in United’s 2-1 defeat at Ipswich Town on New Year’s Day, Oxford’s previous game thanks to the premature decision to postpone Sunday’s match at Bramall Lane due to a partially frozen pitch.

On the plus side, Cameron Brannagan is fit again for the first time since 22nd November, when he went off in the Middlesbrough game. With Matt Phillips also potentially available, it means Oxford may have a lot more options than before.

New signing Jamie Donley will be standing by to make his debut, although Luke Harris has returned to Fulham, meaning the U’s still have five loan players. Injury doubts remain over Przsemysłav Płacheta, Ben Davies, and Hidde ter Avest, but with Short stating that he’s a fan of the FA Cup, it looks like Oxford will field a strong side.

For the Dons, former United defender Marvin Ekpiteta is likely to return after doing his hamstring on 1st January, although skipper Alex Gilbey is set to miss out with a groin strain.

With the game taking place on a Friday evening due to being shown live on Discovery + (whatever that is) a big crowd isn’t expected, especially with Storm Goretti threatening to make conditions rather unpleasant.

Hopefully, the performance on the pitch will act as a warming agent for the travelling Oxford fans, who will be looking to progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 2019/20 season.

Come on boys, you can do it. UTFO