MICHAEL APPLETON is dreaming of an FA Cup reunion with Manchester United after guiding League Two Oxford United to the shock of the round.
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| Roofe (left) celebrates scoring (bottom right) after Oxford earned a penalty to claw into the tie |
Appleton took another stride towards restoring his reputation as one of English football’s brightest coaching prospects as his side swept aside their Premier League opponents, who slipped deeper into crisis.
This was no fluke. For long periods Oxford outplayed Swansea at their own easy-on-the-eye game, making a mockery of the 54 places separating the sides in the football pyramid.
Star of the show was Kemar Roofe, who lived up to his growing reputation with a brilliant double – and Oxford can now look forward to this evening’s fourth-round draw, where further riches and an even bigger name may await.
And boss Appleton, who began his playing career at United, admits a trip to Old Trafford to pit his wits against Louis van Gaal would do nicely.
“I’m sure the chairman will want a big one away, I’d be happy with that,” he said.
“The reality is we can’t win this competition, but if we can keep putting in performances like this we will certainly give people a lot of entertainment and hopefully make the club a few quid.
“From a selfish point of view I’d be delighted with Manchester United because of my history and I’m still a big fan, believe it or not, even now.”
A huge banner bearing the words ‘Rise like the spirit of 1986’ – a nod to Oxford’s greatest moment, their League Cup final win over QPR – was unfurled by home fans ahead of kick-off and their hopes of another day to savour were raised when confirmation came that Swansea had made 10 changes.
Controversial though it was, the decision by interim-manager Alan Curtis was hardly a surprise given the six-pointer which awaits against Sunderland on Wednesday.
Even so, Swansea, with Bafetimbi Gomis, Jonjo Shelvey and Jefferson Montero in their side, should have performed better.
Such was Oxford’s early dominance, it was a surprise when the visitors took the lead.
The goal was a nod to the Swansea who have lit up the Premier League in recent seasons as Montero cut inside from the left before playing a slick one-two with Marvin Emnes and hoodwinking goalkeeper Sam Slocombe with a ‘Messi-esque’ backheel inside the near post.
It could – and perhaps should – have been enough to quell any romance in this tie. Yet Oxford, in an automatic promotion spot, are made of stern stuff these days and their probing continued.
Eventually it was rewarded, coming crucially on the stroke of half time. Kyle Bartley was guilty of rashly diving in as Alex MacDonald bore down on goal.
“In real time it looked like a penalty, but I have just seen it a couple of times and there doesn’t seem to be any contact whatsoever,” said Curtis.
“But if a defender goes to ground then the referee has to make a decision. Maybe without the pen we could have gone in at 1-0 and regrouped a bit, but it wasn’t to be.”
Within 14 minutes of the restart Oxford had a two-goal advantage as Roofe took centre stage.
First, he curled in superbly from 20 yards before rounding off a lightning counter-attack by cutting inside and beating Kristoffer Nordfeldt, though the goalkeeper should have shown stronger hands.
Gomis raised Swansea hopes of a comeback when he clinically fired inside the right post, yet it was far from backs-to-the-wall stuff as Oxford continued to out-Swansea the Swans.
“I knew they were a good team but I didn’t realise they were perhaps quite as good as they were,” said Curtis.
“It [the team selection] looked good enough. It looked a strong side and most of the boys have played in the Premier League. Some did ok, but others did themselves no favours.”
Swansea have won just two of their last 18 matches and for all the talk of improved performances by chairman Huw Jenkins in his statement confirming Curtis as boss for the remainder of the season, the interim manager has now won just one of his six matches at the helm.
With his team 17th in the table, two points above the relegation zone, Wednesday’s match against Sunderland was always going to be the priority.
“It will affect the confidence levels for 24 hours but, once Wednesday comes around, we will be ready,” said Curtis.
Just how poor a result this was will be far clearer by Wednesday night.
Oxford (4-4-1-1): Slocombe; Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz; MacDonald, Sercombe, Lundstram, (O’Dowda 71), Maguire;Roofe (Hoban 90); Taylor (Hylton 80). Goals: Sercombe 45pen, Roofe 49, 59. NEXT UP: Millwall (a), FL Trophy, Thursday.
Swansea (4-2-3-1): Nordfeldt; Shephard, Amat, Bartley, Tabanou (Kingsley, 60); Cork, Grimes (Barrow 76); Emnes, Shelvey, Montero; Gomis. Booked: Amat, Shelvey, Grimes, Tabanou. Goal: Montero 23. NEXT UP: Sunderland (h), PL, Wednesday.
Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).
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