SKIPPER Adam Murray says Oxford United are treating today’s FA Cup tie against minnows Thurrock like any other league game.
The Blue Square Premier leaders are 3-1 on to win the fourth qualifying round tie at the first attempt, with Thurrock a distant 6-1 shot, and the draw 7-2.
“From Monday we were told in no uncertain terms that we’ve got to approach this as a league game, I think the lads already knew that anyway,” Murray said.
“We’ve heard they’re a good team and doing well, so for us it’s like any other league game, we’ve approached it the same way in training this week and we’ll go about it that way on the day.”
A year ago, Dorchester embarrassed the U’s by holding them to a 0-0 draw at the Kassam Stadium and led in the replay before James Constable rescued them with an equaliser and Oxford came through to win 3-1 in extra time.
Said Murray: “The lads who were here last year know what these games are like. We’ve got to make sure we do things right and give 100 per cent.”
The U’s have to do it without the suspended James Constable and Matt Green, but Murray says there’s enough quality in reserve to see them through.
“The good thing is that when things like this happen, we’ve got players of equal standard that can do a job.”
Any replay would be at Thurrock on Tuesday.
The draw for the first round is on ITV1 tomorrow at 1pm.
Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Batt, Foster, Creighton, Kinniburgh, Bulman, Murray, Clist, Chapman, Midson, Cook, Turley, Deering, Kelly, Sandwith, Day, Perry, Rhodes.
Thurrock: (from) Woolley, Andrews, Anderson, Olima, Clark, Paine, Bodkin, Lalite, Bryant, McKenzie, Orinolishe, Flynn, Gilbey, Judge, Knight, Thompson, Saunders, Libby, Doyle
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