Oxford United and Oxford City go into their FA Cup first-round ties today as hot favourites and rank outsiders respectively.

United, in their first game under caretaker manager Mickey Lewis following Malcolm Shotton's departure, are 2-5 with Oxford bookmakers River Racing to beat non-League Morecambe at the Manor Ground.

The Conference outfit are 6-1 to spring a shock, with the draw 11-4.

Meanwhile, River Racing make City 10-1 no-hopers for their tie against second division Wycombe at Adams Park.

Wanderers are a red-hot 1-6, with the draw 9-2.

Lewis reported no late hitches following training yesterday, which means he has a squad of 18 to choose from.

Steve Davis and Paul Tait are suspended, while Steve Anthrobus is out with a knee injury.

City, meanwhile, look set to be without injured duo Terry Morrisey and Andy Smith for their trip down the M40.

THE draw for the second round is live on Sky Sports 1 at 5.30pm tonight.

BOOKIES in the north and south seem divided over tomorrow's FA Cup tie at the Manor Ground.

Those in Lancashire don't seem that convinced that United will end their seven-hour goal drought against Conference club Morecambe.

They make Morecambe's leading scorer Justin Jackson 9-4 favourite to be first goalscorer with his teammate Phil Eastwood next best at 3-1 and Derek Lilley the best Oxford United tip at 7-2.

They are followed by Oxford's Matt Murphy and Morecambe's Neil Hardy at 4-1, and Oxford's Joey Beauchamp and Steve Anthrobus at 5-1.

Story date: Saturday 30 October

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.