Home Match Build-Up 15/02/2026 - Build-Up: FA Cup R4: Oxford United v Sunderland

[The Curragh Of Kildare]

4pm ticket update on Friday and pretty decent sales of 189 seats over the past 27 hours, which leaves 2,033 seats still available. These are split by Stand - North 243, East 763, South Upper 509 & South Lower 518. Surprising that the East Stand has the highest availability relative to the others.

That means total home attendance is currently just below 8,000 and total attendance is around 9,500, so think it will be a crowd in the 9,800-10,000 region given the current rate of sales.

 

[Carpy]

That means total home attendance is currently just below 8,000 and total attendance is around 9,500, so think it will be a crowd in the 9,800-10,000 region given the current rate of sales.

Others may shoot me down, but pretty good given the circumstances I say.

 

[Royalstandard74]

Others may shoot me down, but pretty good given the circumstances I say.

I’d say that pretty good also, bearing in mind our home performances and possibly the least glamorous prem team we could of got.

 

[holdsteady]

FA cup crowds are down across the board unless it’s a glamour tie or a later round so not to bad.

 

[Oxymoron]

I’d say that pretty good also, bearing in mind our home performances and possibly the least glamorous prem team we could of got.

plus the stupid "Move it to a Sunday and then schedule the kickoff to a time that's neither early or late, just uninspiring

 

[TailsWeWin]

I’d say that pretty good also, bearing in mind our home performances and possibly the least glamorous prem team we could of got.

Bournemouth? Burnley? Wolves? Brighton?

 

[SteMerritt]

Bournemouth? Burnley? Wolves? Brighton?

We haven't played Bournemouth or Wolves for ages, so there would be some interest because of that. Will give you the other two though.

 

[werthersoriginal]

We haven't played Bournemouth or Wolves for ages, so there would be some interest because of that. Will give you the other two though.

Wolves and Sunderland are proper old well supported teams. Bournemouth and Brighton are a bit plasticky and 'IKEA'. Burnley are just boring.

 

[swolley]

It would be good to get 10k, it was not that many years ago that was a major target for us with lots of prompting and promoting by the club and members on here.

Some slightly encouraging news I read this week following the gloomy stuff about the demise of the FAC is that TNT report their broadcast of the 3rd round tie Man U v Brighton was watched by more people than any PL match they have shown this season. Other factors in play here obviously like 12.30 ko times and EFL matches on at same time, when they show PL matches, FAC still of interest outside the PL

 

[Stanford yellow]

Good news,Donley in the squad

 

[tonyw]

I think it's 95% certain that Bloomfield will play five at the back - it seems to be the formation he likes, we're playing a team in the division above so a bit of defense-first pragmatism is more justified, and his foray into four on Tuesday night was an unmitigated disaster (although I think most of us would say that was down to the personnel he chose and where he played them, more than the formation itself).

Think Lankshear should and will start - even though his form has been patchy of late, he's still our best striker and he's rested. If Donley can go, it would be great to have him play in behind, and get a sight of this understanding the two of them apparently have.

And then whilst I wouldn't play a wholesale reserve team, I would rest players who've been out there a lot in high intensity positions - probably Cam & MPH in particular.

So something like:

Ingram
Spencer Makosso Helik Davies Roosken
McDonnell Konak
Donley Jin-Woo
Lankshear

 

[OxRox]

I think it's 95% certain that Bloomfield will play five at the back - it seems to be the formation he likes, we're playing a team in the division above so a bit of defense-first pragmatism is more justified, and his foray into four on Tuesday night was an unmitigated disaster (although I think most of us would say that was down to the personnel he chose and where he played them, more than the formation itself).

Think Lankshear should and will start - even though his form has been patchy of late, he's still our best striker and he's rested. If Donley can go, it would be great to have him play in behind, and get a sight of this understanding the two of them apparently have.

And then whilst I wouldn't play a wholesale reserve team, I would rest players who've been out there a lot in high intensity positions - probably Cam & MPH in particular.

So something like:

Ingram
Spencer Makosso Helik Davies Roosken
McDonnell Konak
Donley Jin-Woo
Lankshear

I wouldn't mind that lineup but I'd like to see Romeny start (if fit). I'm sure there's more to come from him.

 

[Peterdev]

Good call,for,the front men. And to have Ingram in goal too. Cumming wasn’t that great at at on Tuesday.

 

[BicesterU]

I think it's 95% certain that Bloomfield will play five at the back - it seems to be the formation he likes, we're playing a team in the division above so a bit of defense-first pragmatism is more justified, and his foray into four on Tuesday night was an unmitigated disaster (although I think most of us would say that was down to the personnel he chose and where he played them, more than the formation itself).

Think Lankshear should and will start - even though his form has been patchy of late, he's still our best striker and he's rested. If Donley can go, it would be great to have him play in behind, and get a sight of this understanding the two of them apparently have.

And then whilst I wouldn't play a wholesale reserve team, I would rest players who've been out there a lot in high intensity positions - probably Cam & MPH in particular.

So something like:

Ingram
Spencer Makosso Helik Davies Roosken
McDonnell Konak
Donley Jin-Woo
Lankshear

I'd like to see us try Makosso and Davies either side of Helik, and Donley and MPH behind Romeny

Ingram
Makosso Helik Davies
Mills McDonnell Konak Currie
Donley MPH
Romeny

 

[Manorlounger]

Makes no difference to me as don't go to Spain until two days after this one. Will be missing Southampton away which is disappointing though

We'll be in Sri Lanka, 5 1/2 hours ahead so, we might get to watch this over an early beer, or three!


Edit: Cancel that, we'll be in the air flying back home - means no internet and no way of knowing the score until we land around 7pm. a**e!

 

[tonyw]

Hmmmm......just realized that my XI doesn't work because I've put all six loanees in my starting XI (and I'm assuming the five loanee limit still applies to the FA Cup?)

So might have to play Brown instead of Davies

 

[tonyw]

We'll be in Sri Lanka, 5 1/2 hours ahead so, we might get to watch this over an early beer, or three!

Going to be watching any of the disco cricket out there?

 

[Manorlounger]

Going to be watching any of the disco cricket out there?

Unlikely, we're touring around with a full itinerary.

 

[MarkG]

We'll be in Sri Lanka, 5 1/2 hours ahead so, we might get to watch this over an early beer, or three!


Edit: Cancel that, we'll be in the air flying back home - means no internet and no way of knowing the score until we land around 7pm. a**e!

Long haul flights I think have (paid for) wifi these days so you can always keep up if you want to.

 

[Eric Blair]

I think it's 95% certain that Bloomfield will play five at the back - it seems to be the formation he likes, we're playing a team in the division above so a bit of defense-first pragmatism is more justified, and his foray into four on Tuesday night was an unmitigated disaster (although I think most of us would say that was down to the personnel he chose and where he played them, more than the formation itself).

Think Lankshear should and will start - even though his form has been patchy of late, he's still our best striker and he's rested. If Donley can go, it would be great to have him play in behind, and get a sight of this understanding the two of them apparently have.

And then whilst I wouldn't play a wholesale reserve team, I would rest players who've been out there a lot in high intensity positions - probably Cam & MPH in particular.

So something like:

Ingram
Spencer Makosso Helik Davies Roosken
McDonnell Konak
Donley Jin-Woo
Lankshear

Hard agree

 

[Eaststanding]

Long haul flights I think have (paid for) wifi these days so you can always keep up if you want to.

Virgin certainly do.

 

[Royalstandard74]

Bournemouth? Burnley? Wolves? Brighton?

I will give you Burnley, but they are much the same, not very interesting.

 

[billyturleyscurlywurly]

Is Greg Leigh able to play as this isn’t a league game?

 

[Royalstandard74]

Is Greg Leigh able to play as this isn’t a league game?

I wouldn’t of thought so, registered players are suspended from cup games if they get a red card in the league, it’s all connected.

 

[uptheus]

4pm ticket update on Friday and pretty decent sales of 189 seats over the past 27 hours, which leaves 2,033 seats still available. These are split by Stand - North 243, East 763, South Upper 509 & South Lower 518. Surprising that the East Stand has the highest availability relative to the others.

That means total home attendance is currently just below 8,000 and total attendance is around 9,500, so think it will be a crowd in the 9,800-10,000 region given the current rate of sales.

So as these fans/people have purchased the tickets for this actual game, I’d like to think it’ll look busier than some league games, especially Tuesday’s!

 

[Mike_H]

With Hull and Ipswich out tonight, we are now a top 30 club - in the FA Cup at least.

 

[nick68]

Probably a silly question but can Ter Avest/Leigh be considered given they haven't been registered for EFL yet this is an FA comp? After all they've now done away with players being cup tied.

Time for the negativity to stop and get behind the team for the remaining games regardless of result/performance.

 

[Front Post]

Probably a silly question but can Ter Avest/Leigh be considered given they haven't been registered for EFL yet this is an FA comp? After all they've now done away with players being cup tied.

Believe they could

 

[Manorlounger]

Long haul flights I think have (paid for) wifi these days so you can always keep up if you want to.

Might have a try but, past experience has not been good. Expensive and unreliable. More hacked off that the fixture list, which came out after we had booked, meant that we missed two home games. (not to mention that any fixture now is important!)

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Wolves and Sunderland are proper old well supported teams. Bournemouth and Brighton are a bit plasticky and 'IKEA'. Burnley are just boring.

I have to disagree with Burnley. Having been to a lot of their games over the last 10 years home and away because my best mate is a Burnley fan, I have to say they are a very passionate fan base who are very proud of their club. The whole town is invested in the club and it’s nice to see as a neutral.

I sometimes wish that the people of Oxford/Oxfordshire were as passionate towards OUFC as Burnley people were about their home club.