Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Match Previews

Preview: Oxford City (H)

1 December 2017

Match Previews

Preview: Oxford City (H)

1 December 2017

Notts County host Oxford City in the second round of the Emirates FA Cup looking to book a place in the third round for the first time in six years.

The Magpies rallied from 2-0 down to beat League One side Bristol Rovers 4-2 in round one, while City caused a big upset with their 1-0 win away at Colchester United, making it to round two for only the second time in the club's history and the first time since the 1969-70 season.

The Hoops have navigated their way through four stages to get this far and have been rewarded with a plum tie on the television as BT Sport will broadcast the game live.

They currently occupy 19th place in the National League South, though they have seen an upturn in form since their round-one victory, taking seven points from a possible nine to move out of the relegation zone.

And, having already knocked out League Two opposition earlier in the competition, they will come to Meadow Lane with nothing to fear.

Adult tickets for the game are priced just £15. Click here for more details.

Notts boss Kevin Nolan says...

"They have already beaten a good side in Colchester so for them to have that scalp means they will come here full of confidence and with nothing to lose.

"They will run themselves into the ground. We have to make sure we match them in every department and hopefully our quality will shine through."

Click here for more from the manager.

Oxford City coach Joe Deeney says...

“We believe we have good enough players to be more than a match for anyone and we certainly aren’t going to Notts County with a mentality of accepting our fate.

“The challenge for us is not looking at the game as a season-definer. We can go there and express ourselves.

“We know what's at stake, but we also know what massive rewards are there for us.”

Team news

Jon Stead and Shola Ameobi are doubtful for the game with leg and groin injuries respectively, while Callum Saunders has been suffering with flu in the build-up.

Adam Collin and Michael O'Connor remain sidelined by long-term injuries but manager Kevin Nolan has an otherwise fully-fit squad to choose from.

Dangerman

Matt Paterson was the hero of round one for the Hoops, scoring the only goal in their 1-0 win at Colchester.

The striker has plenty of EFL experience having started his career at Southampton, where he scored twice in 22 appearances before joining Southend in January 2010.

After loan spells with Stockport, Hamilton and Forest Green, he left Roots Hall to sign for Burton, who he helped to the League Two play-offs.

After spending 2013-14 with Aldershot, he signed for Gosport Borough and scored 25 goals before joining Havant & Waterlooville, who he helped to win promotion to the National League South with 18 goals in 30 games.

He joined Oxford City this summer, reuniting with Justin Bennett, his strike partner from Gosport, with whom he had enjoyed a fruitful partnership - the duo scoring 58 goals between them in 2014-15.

Unfortunately, Bennett picked up a serious injury in pre-season, leaving Paterson to shoulder the responsibility of being the team's chief goalscorer for this campaign.

What are the odds?

Front-of-shirt sponsors for the game William Hill have priced Notts up as 1/4 favourites to secure passage to round three, while the visitors are 11/1 to pull off an upset. A draw, which would see the tie go to a replay, is 9/2.

The Magpies sealed their place in round two with a 4-2 victory over Bristol Rovers in the first round and the same scoreline this time around can be backed at 40/1.

A comfortable 3-0 win for Notts is 13/2 or a narrow 1-0 victory is priced 15/2.

Notts are 15/8 to win the game with both teams scoring or 10/11 to win the game to-nil.

With Shola Ameobi and Jon Stead doubtful for the game, Jonathan Forte could find himself starting up front and the striker is 7/2 to score the first goal, 4/1 to score two or more or 18/1 to bag a hat-trick.

Central defender Shaun Brisley is 33/1 to open the scoring, while his usual partner at the heart of the defence, Richard Duffy, is 25/1 to find the net first.

You can bet on the game here.


Advertisement block

iFollow Next Match Tickets Shop