THE disappointment of Oxford United’s Saturday FA Cup defeat at the hands of Blackburn quickly turned to excitement ahead of Tuesday’s crucial game against Millwall.

If the U’s avoid a two-goal defeat at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night the team and their fans will be on their way to Wembley for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.

When they last played at Wembley in 2010, more than 30,000 travelled to see the club return to the Football League after a 3-1 win against York.

Top News

After Saturday’s game fans turned their attention to the possibility of another dream day out at the home of English football.

Three generations of the Meechan family from Barton were in high spirits despite Saturday’s loss.

Grandfather Billy Meechan said the FA Cup matches were “bonus games” anyway, and the excitement was still very much alive.

The 56-year-old, who went to the game with son Kenny and grandson Ryan, said: “Nothing really came off for us against Blackburn, we struggled to get the ball down and play.

“If we were going to lose a game, though, that was the one to lose, they are bonus games.

“Millwall is the bigger game and promotion from League Two is very important.

thisisoxfordshire:

Jake Morris, eight, and brother Freddie, five

He added: “We are quietly confident and have even been organising a possible trip to Wembley.”

Lifelong fan Steve Morris from Shipston-on-Stour, took his boys Jake, eight, and Freddie, five, to their first Oxford United game on Saturday.

Eight-year-old Jake said: “It was really exciting – we loved all the noise.

“We are really looking forward to hopefully going to Wembley and we wanted to make a foil trophy.”

Ray Haywood, from Abingdon, has been going to home and away games all season with his five-year-old grandson Harry Thynne.

He said: “It’s exciting and it’s been a great season so far. I’ve been most pleased with the way we have played football.

“We will definitely be at Wembley and I’m hopeful we will make it to the game ourselves.”

thisisoxfordshire:

Jeyden Nicolson's foil cup

Tuesday night’s game is “all-ticket” so tickets must be purchased before midday on Tuesday.

A concern that there could be trouble at the match is keeping one or two away but has not dampened their excitement for what might lie ahead.

The Gerrow family from Bicester, regulars at the Kassam Stadium this season, also said they were dreaming of a place in the final.

Marie Gerrow, who takes her nine-year-old son Ollie and seven-year-old daughter Hannah, said: “We are not going on Tuesday, I was a bit worried that it hadn’t been all-ticketed, but we won’t be missing Wembley.

“We are quite confident we will win and get to Wembley, bring it on.”

Father and son Ben and Samuel Andrews, seven, are also staying away tomorrow night but remain optimistic.

The 31-year-old from Marston said: “It’s a shame the Cup run has come to end.

“But I feel confident for Tuesday’s game and we will of course be at Wembley if they get there. It’s exciting times.”

SCHOOLBOYS PERFORM A GUARD OF HONOUR

thisisoxfordshire:

Charlbury Town Youth under-eights before the big match

Youngsters from Charlbury Town Youth FC FC got closer to Saturday’s action than anyone else.

The under-eights team had the privilege of doing the guard of honour for the players as they ran on to the Kassam Stadium pitch. 

The boys held Oxford United flags aloft either side of the tunnel just before kick- off as both sets of players ran through the middle. 

Coach Matt Stevenson said the club kept their promise despite the fixture being changed from a regular league game.

He said: “We had been down since October for the boys to do the guard of honour against Northampton at home which was originally being played before Oxford got through in the FA Cup.

“We didn’t know whether we would still get the chance but it’s great that the club have stuck to it.

“The boys have been so excited about it for weeks.”

The group followed in many other local teams’ footsteps and welcomed the U’s and their opponents out on to the pitch.

The boys then took their seats in the stadium and watched Championship side Blackburn Rovers beat the home side 3-0 in convincing fashion.

Mr Stevenson said: “They loved the occasion, they weren’t too bothered by the result in the end they were just excited by the fact they were out there.

“They got to go on the grass and wave the flags and see some of their heroes run past

“And they saw three good goals.”

Seven-year-old Josh Stevenson said: “I really liked it I had been excited for it for ages.

“But I thought Oxford United were going to win 1-0.”