FA Cup hero Jack Midson said hard work on the training ground helped him and the team beat Yeovil, writes JON MURRAY.
The Oxford United striker’s quick reactions in lobbing Yeovil goalkeeper Richard Martin didn't just come by fluke.
“I do it in training every week,” he said. “Chasing everything down, it becomes second nature if you expect it to happen, and nine times out of ten I can win that and hopefully get a shot on target.”
Midson, who was involved in part-timers Histon’s great FA Cup run last season when they beat both Swindon Town and Leeds United, said the goal delighted him so much, we almost wanted to jump into the crowd and celebrate with the Oxford fans.
“In the second half our fans stepped up the volume another notch in the main stand,” he said. “It's so loud down there when you get a corner.
“When I scored, I wanted to jump in there with them, but I'd already been booked, so I had to be careful, but the excitement I had probably showed in my face.”
He added: “"We had the confidence to know that . . . I'm not saying we would definitely beat them, but that we could certainly give them a good game. All the work we put in through the week paid off.”
United manager Chris Wilder said: “Jack's played out of position, he's not played as much as he would have hoped to, but he was part of a great team effort.
“Fair play to him, he got a great goal and a great finish, but everybody played their part and, as we always say, it's a group effort.”
United’s play was very tight and error-free, but Wilder stressed it had to be against League One players.
“I thought if we made it an open game, that would give them a big advantage with the players they've got,” he said.
“We tried to play up to the front three, who are physical, strong players and make the game as uncomfortable as possible, and we did that to a certain extent.
“And when the game opened up, we've still got good enough players to get on the ball and make things happen.”
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