City's defence plan to keep McSporran in their pocket
| Bold City bidding
for big Cup upset by Niall Jeger |
| Oxford
City manager Paul Lee is taking the brave step of
fielding three strikers for tomorrow's first-round FA Cup
clash against Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park. Tate Hulbert, Jason Davy and Stewart McCleary will all be in the attack, and Lee said, "If we sit back, they will swarm all over us. We have got to try and snatch a goal. I am convinced we will cause them problems." On paper, City have little chance against Nationwide Division 2 Wycombe. But in the FA Cup, anything's possible. Wycombe boss Lawrie Sanchez is taking nothing for granted, saying, "It's a banana skin and we have got to make sure we don't slip up on it." And Wycombe know all too well about slip-ups. In 1997, Wanderers - themselves famed giant-killers in their non-League days - were dumped out of the competition by Ryman Premier Division outfit Basingstoke Town in a two-match epic. |
Basingstoke
dreww 2-2 at Adams Park. The replay at the Camrose also
ended 2-2 and Basingstoke won 5-4 on penalties. Included in the Basingstoke squad was Nigel Emsden, who is in City's team tomorrow. So along with Terry Sweeney, who did it with Plymouth last year, that's two City players who have kicked Wycombe out of the Cup in consecutive years. City, who are the lowest non-league club left in the competition, have two major injury doubts. Andy Smith, who openeed the scoring against Salisbury in the fourth qualifying round, is almost certainly out with knee ligament damage, while Terry Morrisey is rated less than 50-50 by Lee. Michael Thorp is expected to replace Smith. |
For
Wycombe, right-back Matt Lawrence is out as he starts a
three-match ban following his sending off at Notts
County. Wanderers' ex-City striker Jermaine McSporran has said City's defence is slow, and that has got a few backs up. But Lee watched Wycombe take on Luton last week and saw a defence that was lacking in pace. Davy, McCleary and Dwaine Strong are all quick City attackers and if City can stay solid at the back, they are capable of troubling Wycombe's defence. But whatever the result, City will be going out afterwards for a meal and a few beers. Lee praised his team saying,"The players have been magnificent to get us this far." |