Oxford is the City of my birth and although I hate the place with a passion I've had a soft spot for Oxford United since seeing the team play, with my soccer mad daughter a year or so ago. And today at the Kassam, Oxford showed what the FA Cup is all about.
The home side are currently third - so in an automatic play-off spot - in the bottom flight: League two. They are "in form". The visitors in the 3rd Round of the Cup were Premiership Swansea who are not in form and are among the four or five sides battling to avoid going down with Aston Villa who appear to be dead in the water. Right now the Swans are just above the relegation zone but you would not bet the ranch on them surviving.
And so perhaps Swansea saved a few players for more important league battles that lie ahead. If so, they underestimated Oxford who have now moved through to the fourth round of the Cup with a 3-2 win. Not even the presence of Timmy Mallet supporting the home side can take the shine off the day.
Two of Oxford's goals came from Premiership reject Kemar Roofe. That is Oxford a team of rejects, journeymen and youngsters who will probably never make it out of the lower leagues. But a new manager, Michael Appleton, has thi side playing well.
One suspects that he would ather bank an autimatic promotion than enjoy a long cup run but that is tomorrow's problem. Today, The City of Lost Causes comes up trumps while the Sheep Shaggers head back to colonial exile in despondent mood. A good day at the office.
It is time to call the daughter to share this monent of joy as well as to reflect on another game yesterday at The Academy.