Glen Harrington
2:24pm, Sat 5th Nov 2022
Woking vs Oxford United
Emirates FA Cup – First Round
Sunday 6th November 2022
Woking will look to continue their excellent recent form when they host League One side Oxford United in the first-round proper of the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday.
The Cards have won six and drawn two of their last nine games in all competitions, including a home win over Southend United in the previous round to progress to this stage. They are also unbeaten in their last four home matches, winning three, including two in the past week – against Eastleigh and Yeovil Town. Darren Sarll’s side have lost just twice at home all season, against the National League’s top two; Wrexham and Notts County, whilst they’ve won seven of the other eight. They’ll now be aiming to reach the second-round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2018/19.
James Daly will be available to Woking again following suspension. But the Cards will be sweating on a lengthy injury list which includes Kyran Lofthouse, Reece Grego-Cox, Luke Wilkinson, and Rhys Browne, who have all missed the last two games. Last time out, against Yeovil, they were able to welcome back Jermaine Anderson, following his suspension, and Jack Roles, who set up the winner for striker Padraig Amond.
Opposition Watch
Oxford are playing in League One for the seventh consecutive season. They have mostly enjoyed life in the third tier, finishing in the top-half on five occasions and reaching the play-offs twice, most recently in 2021. Last season they finished eighth. They’ve been knocked out in the first-round of the FA Cup in both of the last two seasons but reached round four in 2020 and round five in 2017. They spent four seasons in the Conference/National League between 2006-2010.
This season has been tougher for the U’s – they are currently in 17th place with 19 points from 16 games, five clear of the bottom four. They’ve won just two of their last 11 matches in all competitions, a run stretching back to mid-September, although they are unbeaten in their last three – a 3-1 win away at Bolton and draws at Portsmouth and at home to Fleetwood (both 1-1). Their top scorers this season are midfielder Cameron Brannagan (6) and striker Kyle Joseph (5), who are the only players to find the net more than once.
There are some notable ties between Woking and Oxford. Kyran Lofthouse is an Oxford academy graduate, whilst the Cards have also benefitted from several other loan players from the U’s in recent seasons, including Armani Little, Harvey Bradbury, Malachi Napa, and Slavi Spasov, who remains on the club’s books. Long-serving Oxford goalkeeper Simon Eastwood also spent 14 games on loan with the Cards back in 2008/09.
The club’s manager is Karl Robinson, who has been in charge since 2018, having previously been in charge at Charlton Athletic and Milton Keynes Dons.
Tickets
Ticket prices are at a discounted rate of £18 for Adults, Concessions £13, Next-Gen £10, and just £5 for Under 16s when pre-purchased online. Season Ticket holders will need to purchase tickets for this match as Season Tickets are valid exclusively for Vanarama National League fixtures. Tickets bought on the gate on the day are charged at an additional £2.
For more information and to book your ticket please
click here.
