Oxford United will launch an investigation into why their team bus arrived so late at Stafford.

Despite leaving in plenty of time, at 11am from Oxford, it took more than three hours to get to the Marston Road ground.

There was a small hold-up en route, but the coach also ended up going round and round the town of Stafford, with the driver struggling to find the ground.

United arrived just before 2.15pm, just in time to hand the teamsheet in to the referee, but it added to the stress levels of all concerned.

Said boss Darren Patterson: "The lads were under pressure anyway and they weren't helped by our bus company taking us 20 times around the middle of Stafford.

"I don't know how that happened, but it was unprofessional so I'm not happy about it."

The coach driver said the directions he had been given from the club were not accurate.

Phil Trainer, who was at the back of the bus, eventually came to the rescue, having played at the ground a number of times, although - according to his teammates - by then they had already done several tours of the town!