We've
had some decent League Cup ties in the last few seasons, and this has
to be up there with the best of them. A trip to Championship giants
Leeds United was the reward for overcoming Bournemouth in
the first round, and it will be the first time an Oxford side has
travelled to Elland Road since a 1998 FA Cup match which ended in
a 4-0
defeat.
Leeds
will pose a formidable test; currently seventh in the Championship
they harbour significant hopes of promotion to the Premier League. An
opening day victory over newly-relegated Wolves made for an
impressive start to the season, but was followed with defeat at the
hands of current Championship leaders Blackpool before a return to
winning ways away at Peterborough on Saturday. Perhaps most ominous
was the 4-0
thrashing they handed to Shrewsbury in the first round of
the Cup.
However,
it seems likely that Leeds will rest several key players for this
match and they run the risk of potentially taking the game too
lightly. We are a confident and settled side at the moment, top of
the league and riding the crest of a wave. Footballing history throws
up numerous examples of lower league sides springing surprises over
their unsuspecting illustrious opponents. There is a lot of quality
in this Oxford team and Leeds will run the risk of underestimating a
talented side if they do decide to field an 'experimental' lineup, as
is rumoured.
Oxford will also want to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment suffered
in our last big cup trip, when we were brushed aside with ease
by Sheffield
United.
Oxford's
most likely downfall comes from a familiar source: the treatment table. Deane Smalley and
Tom Craddock, both of whom have been impressive
this season, are receiving treatment, Lee Cox will remain on our
already lengthy injury list and Forster-Caskey is carrying a knock
from Saturday.
The
most well-known playing connection between the two clubs is of course
Michael Duberry. Dubes spent several years at Elland Road, playing in
the Champions League during his time there and famously becoming
embroiled in the Woodgate
and Bowyer court case. But with his current injury layoff Duberry
will be forced to watch from the stands. Tony Capaldi, however, is
likely to start. Capaldi spent a few weeks on loan at Leeds (then in
League One) during his time at Cardiff City. He only played three
times before returning to South Wales. On a vaguely related note,
Mickey Lewis made his Oxford debut 24 years ago today, in a 1-1
Second Division draw away to Leeds United.
Our
record against Leeds is respectable. The two clubs have not met on a
large number of occasions, but when we have faced them we have been
very evenly matched. Rage
Online tells me that Oxford and Leeds have met 11 times,
four of which have resulted in victory for Oxford, four have finished
in favour of Leeds and three matches have been drawn. The 44 goals
produced in these matches (an average of four goals per game!) have
been shared evenly between the two clubs. To find our last victory
over the Yorkshire side, we have to go back to 1994 and an FA
Cup fourth round replay victory masterminded by Jim
Magilton.
From the Vaults
Oxford United v Leeds United, 24th November 1984
Oxford
welcomed Leeds to the Manor for their first ever League encounter.
Leeds were looking for revenge after being dumped out of the League
Cup at the Manor the previous season, but were facing an Oxford side
that were top of the league. Leeds stormed to a 2-0 lead, but then up
stepped John Aldridge and Co...
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