The U's Matchzone

Match Report: Carabao Cup – Oxford United 2-2 Millwall (4-2 on pens)

|

Oxford United have progressed to the third round of the Carabao Cup after the U’s overcame Millwall on penalties.

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson gave the Lions a two-goal lead but Mark Sykes, who was made available for loan by Karl Robinson, reduced the deficit late on before James Henry sent the tie to penalties with an injury-time spot-kick.

Bodvarasson hit the bar during the shootout and Simon Eastwood denied Shane Ferguson as the U’s scored all four penalties.

Robinson made wholesale changes for this cup clash with eight different personnel from the defeat at Bristol Rovers. Eastwood remained in goal, while Kevin Berkoe made his first start for the club at left-back. Elliott Moore and John Mousinho was the centre-back partnership for the first time this season, with Sam Long at right-back.

The midfield was completely different from the previous one on Saturday. Jamie Hanson sat in front of the back four, with Shandon Baptiste and Sykes ahead of him. It was the formers’ first game in ten months after suffering a major injury last season. Anthony Forde started on the left, with Rob Hall on the right and Jamie Mackie replaced Matty Taylor up top.

It wasn’t just Robinson that made changes. Neil Harris also made eight changes from the side that drew at Middlesbrough on Saturday. And it was the Championship side that started brighter.

Direct football was the approach for the Lions who looked for the duo of Bodvarsson and Tom Elliott up top, but Moore looked comfortable winning headers in the U’s defence.

When Millwall did get past Moore, it was Eastwood that denied them, as the U’s number one denied Shaun Hutchinson’s header.

Oxford countered with Baptiste and the midfielder won a free-kick, which Hall saw saved by Luke Steele. And the goalkeeper, on loan from Nottingham Forest, was involved as the visitors took the lead. His long ball was won by Elliott and Bodvarsson beat Mousinho before slotting past Eastwood for the opener.

The U’s looked for an immediate response – Baptiste saw a low, long-range effort saved by Steele before the midfielder was having his shirt pulled in the box, but the referee failed to award a penalty.

After the restart, Hall fired a long-range effort just wide, but Millwall doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half when Bodvarsson got in front of Moore before heading home.

The forward could have completed his hattrick just one minute later but his effort struck the post.

George Thorne made his Oxford debut as the Derby loanee replaced Baptiste, and Woodburn replaced Hall before Bodvarsson missed a header. Henry came on for Mackie but time was running away.

But with just minutes remaining, Sykes saw his deflected effort sail in before Woodburn was fouled in the box deep into stoppage time, and Henry stepped up to send the match to a shootout.

Henry, Thorne, Woodburn and Mousinho all scored in the shootout as Oxford progressed 4-2 on penalties.

Share this article