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After a weekend of FA Cup upsets, albeit draws, Premier League side Swansea City traveled to League Two outfit Oxford United determined not to be the first top flight side to be dumped straight out of the competition. But, a five goal thriller in front of a packed Kassam Stadium saw the U’s progress to the fourth round, leaving manager Alan Curtis with a defeat in his first game in charge since being named as Garry Monk’s permanent successor.
The defence aside, the Swans named a strong starting eleven, which included forwards Bafetimbi Gomis and Marvin Emnes, with England international Jonjo Shelvey orchestrating in midfield.
And despite an early dominance from the League Two side, it was Swansea that took the lead midway through the first half when winger Jefferson Montero and Emnes linked up well before the former clipped the ball past U’s goalkeeper Sam Slocombe. Undeterred by the goal, the hosts continued their early dominance, restricting the Swans to long range efforts, most notably three from Shelvey all of which went sailing high and wide.
But with half time approaching, the U’s, who had been playing some sensational football from the likes of midfield duo Liam Sercombe and Johnny Lundstram, were awarded a penalty when Swans skipper Kyle Bartley fouled Alex MacDonald. Sercombe composed himself before smashing home the equaliser to send the sides in level at the break.
Oxford, who have played some fantastic football already this season as Michael Appleton’s side sit 3rd in League Two, began the second half the way they ended the first, and soon took the lead when in-form forward Kemar Roofe curled home a peach from the edge of the box, sending the home fans into raptures. As Swansea pressed for an equaliser, the U’s hit the Premier League side on the counter attack, resulting in Roofe in a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, and the former West Brom forward tucked home his second and Oxford’s third to give the League Two side breathing space.
Bafatembi Gomis did reduce the deficit and set up a nervy finale, but the U’s, who remained professional right until the final whistle, held on to progress to the fourth round.
