Oxford - Early Match Day Thread

JB on Oxford and Rovers chances

Very good side. Patterns of play .Really good principles but once you know them, you know them.

I can't see them changing too much - although now I've said this they might do - but they're on such a good run against an out-of-sorts League Two team ... I don't think they'll have too many sleepless nights against us.

I imagine Karl will be rubbing his hands and thinking, 'this is the time where I'll get you done', but it's the cup and I just have a weird feeling about where our group's at the minute. We've got a really good spirit building and this will test our teamship, it'll be a tough game.

But, as we showed at Harrogate, the lads rose to the challenge against a team that had been free-scoring in this division, unbeaten at home, expected to steamroller us ... all these things, and I thought our lads put out the best defensive performance they have done since I've been at the club.

It'll be a tough challenge but I'm looking forward to it.

JB on his Robinson rivalry

Karl won't like me for reminding him of this but I think it's six or seven games now he hasn't beaten me. It's not that I mention to it after every game ...

Even in pre-season, they were leading and Brett scores a wondergoal and he must be thinking, 'how am I going to find a way past this team?'

JB on how strong a team he'll play

It's the FA Cup, we'll be trying to win it, we'll be trying to put out as strong a team as we can. That's fit and available.

We'll have a team that will have a plan to cause problems for Oxford.

It'd be a hard enough fixture if we had a team going there with everybody fit, League Two against League One, but we'll have enough players on the pitch to hopefully cause them problems.


JB on Matty Taylor

He's one of them. If he's on the pitch for you he's always got a chance of popping up with a goal. It's the hardest thing to do in football and why people pay so much for them (strikers).

Matty has historically always put the ball in the back of the net, at every club he's been at pretty much. I know there's a bit of a needle between him and our fans but pretty sure, like every player, the FA Cup is important, so for us it's an opportunity to get a little cup run going.

If our Billy plays on Sunday, God help Rovers.

One of my proudest moments was refraining from chinning Timmy Mallet, whilst completely b0lloxed on one away day at the Manor Ground in early 90s, when it regularly kicked off somewhere before or after!?

I use this anecdote with tongue firmly in cheek...

So many hilarious away days at the Manor. I've never really enjoyed it as much with the kettled Kassim. Probably because there were a few different pubs on the way in to headington....on some away days the a420 had Gas in every pub dotted on the way in.

Tomorrow is such a shame. If it was played today, we would have taken far more and enjoyed the magic of the FA cup (which isn't what it used to be)....so with much apathy I predict another non progress past first round. Unless the magic truly exists...?

I just hope we come through it with no more injuries or suspensions.

Boooo the snake, hoping Alfie will have him in his pocket...

Top pub quiz trivia! 

Oxford at 4/6 to win or 13/8 on the -1 handicap looks great.

So often league form goes out the window for the tough cup games.  A win today and back to limping in the league wouldn’t surprise me.   

Anyone else got no audio on iFollow?

I've got RadBris on t'interweb

We are so much worse than Oxford. We’re 1-0 down and chasing the game with a blunt forward line.

Our best hope is the magic of the FA Cup