In-form Oxford can give Swansea tough test in FA Cup third round

Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | January 8, 2016

Oxford United v Swansea City

U’s to test Swans

Swansea City (19/20 odds-on favourites with Coral for victory) will be hoping to get back to winning ways when they travel to League Two outfit Oxford United in their FA Cup third round tie.

The Swans have recently appointed caretaker Alan Curtis as their manager until the end of the season, after failing to find a replacement from outside the club, and desperately need to stop the rot after triumphing in just one of their last 10 matches.

This fixture would’ve been usually synonymous to being a lower league duel over a decade ago and beyond, and Swansea won both fixtures in the 2004/05 League Two campaign 1-0. The Welsh outfit are an enticing 6/1 to edge this battle by that scoreline again.

However, besides that loss, Oxford had won each of the previous five at home against the Swans before that, and so are highly tempting 3/1 shouts to reach the fourth round after this Kassam Stadium clash.

On being drawn with Swansea, Yellows chief executive Mark Ashton said: “It is great news for the club and great news for the supporters. I think it is always good to get higher league opposition.

“I’m sure [manager] Michael [Appleton] will want to pit his wits against Premier League opposition and he will be going out to win the game.”

Confident Oxford can take advantage of shaky Swansea

The U’s happen to be in flying form of late too, as they are up in third place in League Two, while Swansea are down in 17th in the top flight.

Kemar Roofe and Liam Sercombe have been Oxford’s stars in front on goal this term, getting 23 strikes between them, and they are highly tempting respective 2/1 and 10/3 shouts to score anytime.

For the visitors, meanwhile, Andre Ayew, Bafetimbi Gomis (both 6/5) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (15/8) have been the few to give Swans fans some joy this term.

A draw at 5/2 may be the best bet for these two teams, which would then enforce a replay at the Liberty Stadium, meanwhile, after their two previous FA Cup meetings (both in 1993) ended in that result.

Related

Check out more from our FA Cup archive.

Coral’s top tip: As stated just above, a draw at 5/2 is a tasty bet to take.