Oxford United last night made the announcement their fans wanted to hear . . . they will not be raising ticket prices for the eagerly-anticipated FA Cup derby with Swindon Town.

The second-round tie was yesterday switched to Sunday, December 8 after being chosen by the BBC as their live televised game. It will kick off at 1pm.

United officials have decided that prices should remain the same as for normal league games.

The tickets went on sale today, United reaping the benefits of their in-house ticketing system which meant that they could be printed overnight.

Oxford season ticket holders will have until 6pm on Friday, November 29 (the day before the home game against Lincoln) to claim their seat. Any that are not claimed will then go on general sale.

U's fans will welcome the fact that United are not trying to milk any more from supporters by raising prices, something which might have been considered after the sell-out Worthington Cup third-round tie against Aston Villa.

United secretary Mick Brown said: "We don't know what effect it being live on BBC1 will have on the attendance."

After trouble underneath the North Stand at the Villa game, the club and Thames Valley Police have jointly agreed that for Swindon, there will be a bigger no-go area between rival supporters in that stand.

Villa took up around 3,000 tickets but Swindon will have a maximum of 2,760, which will bring the stadium's capacity for this first-ever FA Cup derby to below 12,000.

Brown said: "We've already been in discussions with police to ensure supporters can come to the game in anticipation that it will be a great atmosphere and trouble-free.

"Anyone from either side with the intention of not supporting either team in the correct manner will not be welcome."

Those United fans who normally sit in the North Stand will have the same area allocated to them.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Sportsmail, it is United's first live match at the Kassam Stadium, and is the first time they have been shown live on TV since their Division 2 derby at Wycombe in September 2000.

U's boss Ian Atkins is delighted that the club will receive national attention.

"It's brilliant news," he said. "It will be a passionate match and a great chance for the public of Oxford to create a terrific atmosphere."

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