OXFORD SECURE CUP SHOCK BUT A LATE, LATE SHOW FROM SON SCUPPERS AINSWORTH’S HEROES

THERE was no doubting the magic of the FA Cup was alive and well yesterday as League One Oxford United dumped out Rafa Benitez’s Championship Newcastle.

Kane Hemmings put Michael Appleton’s outfit in front a minute into the second half at the Kassam Stadium with his 13th goal of the season.

Aleksandar Mitrovic’s 67th-minute penalty was then saved by U’s goalkeeper Simon Eastwood before further goals from Curtis Nelson and Toni Martinez sealed the win for the home side.

But it was not all good news for the underdogs yesterday as Wycombe conceded in the 89th and 97th minutes to lose 4-3 at Tottenham.

A win for the Chairboys would have seen them become the first fourth-tier team EVER to knock Spurs out of the FA Cup.

And they were on course for a place in the history books after taking a two-goal lead through Paul Hayes, his second from the penalty spot.

A Heung-min Son effort and spot-kick from Vincent Janssen brought the hosts level before Garry Thompson put the visitors back in front.

But goals from Dele Alli and another from Son saw the White Hart Lane side scrape through.

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth said: “I’m absolutely proud. They have done the whole town proud, done me proud and done themselves proud. The overriding emotion is how proud we are of what we have achieved and how far we have come as a club.”

Tottenham chief Mauricio Pochettino also praised the visitors and said: “This is the most special competition in the world.

“You can not replicate it anywhere. Small sides like Wycombe, coming from League Two, they are exciting and they believe they can beat us here.

“That’s the magic of the FA Cup and that’s why it is the greatest competition.”

After putting Newcastle to the sword Oxford boss Appleton hailed his players. He said: “I was delighted with how the players started the game.

“I thought we got a foothold in the game in the first half and they showed the quality they’ve got.

“Simon Eastwood had to make two very good saves towards the interval.

“I said to the players at half-time that they wouldn’t get a better opportunity to get into the last 16 of the FA Cup. Our belief really told in the last 15 minutes and I thought the players were magnificent.”