Oxford United hoping for good cup draw after shoot-out success (From The Oxford Times)

Oxford United hoping for good cup draw after shoot-out success

9:00am Wednesday 15th August 2012 in Sport By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

Oxford United goalkeeper Ryan Clarke dives to his left to save Marc Pugh’s penalty and help his side to a 5-3 shoot-out victory over Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup at the Kassam Stadium

OXFORD United are hoping to draw a Premier League side in today’s Capital One Cup second round draw after knocking out Bournemouth on penalties last night.

A tight game ended goalless after 120 minutes, but United had the edge in the shoot-out – scoring all five kicks.

With goalkeeper Ryan Clarke saving Bournemouth’s third penalty from Marc Pugh and Damian Batt sealing victory with United’s fifth successful spot-kick, the U’s booked their place in this lunchtime’s draw, alongside Premier League sides not in European action.

Boss Chris Wilder was proud with the way his side matched their opponents from npower League One and is now hoping to land a big tie in the next round.

He said: “When we played West Ham (in 2010) we paid for Tommy Craddock with that, so it’s always the aim.

"It’s good that we’ve progressed and we beat a decent side there, albeit on penalties.

“We gave ourselves an opportunity by sticking in the game, it could have gone either way.

“We gave as good as we got, there were chances at either end, but I don’t think Clarkey’s had an unbelievable amount to do.

“For a 0-0 I thought it was quite entertaining.”

Clarke continued his fine record of saving penalties in a U’s shirt and Wilder was always optimistic his side would have a good chance once it went to the shoot-out.

He said: “I was confident with the boys, I think they’re all technically good and they’re positive players.

“The penalties were different class and we fancied Clarkey to do well. “He’s got a fantastic record in saving penalties for us, but when he dived the wrong way for the first three I thought it was like Peter Shilton in the 1990 World Cup, but he pulled one out of the hat again.”

Batt was delighted hard work on the training ground paid off – and his winning spot-kick gave him extra reason to celebrate.

He said: “I was actually practicing penalties the other day and one of the other boys said ‘why are you practicing them, you’re never going to be on one’.

“It was a good team performance, we played really well, defended well and I think we deserved the win.”

• One fan, Matt Gurney, has produced a brilliant 1920s-style clip of United's shoot-out win. Click here  to watch it