Afternoon all! It's a day out at Wembley for fans of
Oxford United and
Barnsley and we're just under an hour from kickoff at the national stadium. Team news has just been announced, so let's get right to it!
OXFORD XI: Buchel, Roofe, Mullins, Sercombe, Hylton, MacDonald, Ruffels, O'Dowda, Kenny, Dunkley, Evans
Subs: Slocombe, Wright, Waring, Long, Ashby, Maguire, Bowery
BARNSLEY XI: Davies, Williams, White, Mawson, Roberts, Isgrove, Hammill, Hourihane, Brownhill, Fletcher, Winnall
Subs: Townsend, Bree, Scowen, Watkins, Chapman, Nyatanga, Toney
Around 60,000 supporters are expected at Wembley today!
Starting with Oxford then and
Michael Appleton has made a total of four changes from the goalless draw at Cambridge United on Easter Monday. Wright, Skarz, Maguire and Bowery drop out, with Hylton, O'Dowda, Kenny and Evans coming in.
As for Barnsley, it's just two changes from Monday's 1-0 win at Port Vale. Isgrove and Winnall return as Scowen and Tony drop to the bench.
The return of Winnall could be huge for Barnsley. He's scored 17 goals in League One this season but was a real doubt for today's match after missing the trip to Port Vale. Watkins was also doubtful, but he's fit enough for a place on the bench.
For Oxford, Kemar Roofe is the man to look out for in attack. Like Winnall, he's got 17 league goals but it's in the cups where he's really caught fire, scoring eight goals in eight appearances in the Johnstone's Paint, League Cup and FA Cup this season.
© Getty Images
Appleton said that he would not risk defensive duo Mullins and Skarz, but the former does start today having overcome his injury problem. No place for left-back Skarz, though.
A sea of red and yellow filing up Wembley way!
About time we took a closer look at how these two sides got to Wembley, wouldn't you say?
The U's got a bye in the first round, so have only needed to play four ties to get here today. They beat Swindon Town, Dagenham & Redbridge and Yeovil Town to reach the Southern section area final, edging out Millwall 2-1 in the two-legged tie thanks to a 2-0 away win in the first leg.
The Tykes weren't quite so lucky at the start of the competition and they have made harder work of getting to the final. Three 2-1 wins over Scunthorpe United, Bradford City and York City got the Tykes to the last eight before they needed penalties to beat Wigan Athletic, going on to also come past Fleetwood Town in a shootout after a pair of 1-1 draws in the semis.
As for the two teams' form coming into this match, they have both been playing pretty well. Appleton's men have suffered defeat just once in their last nine games and they are unbeaten in their last four, although the last two have both been draws. That's left them second in League Two, but with Northampton 14 clear at the top, it seems that there are just two automatic-promotion places to fight for and with only six games of the season remaining, it's Oxford leading the pack at the moment.
Most of Barnsley's good work this season was with Lee Johnson in charge, but since he was poached by Bristol City, the club has gone from strength to strength. Under caretaker boss
Paul Heckingbottom, the Tykes have won seven of 11, losing just twice in that time and keeping clean sheets in their last three games to lie seventh in the third tier, four points behind the playoffs but with a game in hand.
Naawwwwww
Both sides are chasing a first triumph in this competition today. Last year it was won by Bristol City, earning the Robins a record third title in a competition which has only been going since 1983-84.
No success in this competition, but both teams have had cup glory in the past. Oxford were surprise winners of the 1986 League Cup, while Barnsley had FA Cup glory over a century ago in 1912. Today's match is their first meeting in any cup competition.
H2H: Today's contest is the first meeting in over 17 years between the U's and Tykes. They last clashed at the Manor Ground in January 1999 when a 60th-minute strike from Dean Windass was enough to clinch a 1-0 victory for United. In total, they have met on 22 occasions, with Barnsley holding the advantage with 10 wins to Oxford's seven.
Here come the two teams out of the tunnel! Kickoff closing in and it's a great atmosphere inside the national stadium.
PREDICTION: Right then, time for my pre-match prediction. Oxford have impressed in the cups this season, beating Swansea City in the FA Cup third round in January and I just think they might edge it today. It should be close and I'm backing the U's to win in extra time!.
Andy Woolmer is today's referee and it's good to see both sides in their home colours. Oxford in yellow, Barnsley red.
KICKOFF! Oxford get us underway in the 33rd
Football League Trophy final!
First moment of real danger comes from a long Barnsley throw from the left that Oxford's goalkeeper from Liechtenstein does well to punch away among a crowd of bodies.
Barnsley captain Hourihane goes in really hard on Roofe and gets a stern talking to from Woolmer. No early card, though.
It opens up nicely for Oxford's Hylton on the edge of the box, but Roberts is out quickly and makes a key block.
Barnsley really are trying to pile the pressure on Oxford keeper Buchel whenever they get a chance to swing the ball in or throw it long. So far, the U's stopper is dealing with the danger well.
CHANCE! First real chance of the match as Barnsley break forward. Isgrove passes inside to Winnall, who skips past one challenge before going for goal when a pass to Fletcher would have been better. He tries to curl it in with the outside of his boot, but doesn't get anywhere near enough swerve on it.
It's been an end-to-end start to the match!© Getty Images
MacDonald receives a pass down the right from Oxford but takes a heavy first touch. He manages to keep the ball in play, but then his cutback is behind all his teammates in the middle.
SAVE! Oxford are on top at the moment and win a free kick about 30 yards out that Evans curls over the wall. Davies is across and manages to push it out for a corner.
From the resulting corner Oxford go close again. Mullins's shot from close range was blocked and then Dunkley showed great skill to open up space for a cross, but Barnsley survive. Good stuff from the U's.
It's 69% possession that Oxford have had so far. Impressive start by the League Two outfit.
Hammill has a trick or two up his sleeve and he uses a step-over to beat his man on the left wing before sending over a cross that's headed out by the yellow backline.
CLOSE! Better from Barnsley. Fletcher beats Buchel to a ball over the top and the ball is eventually worked back to Williams. His cross looks perfect for Winnall, but the striker mistimes his jump.
SHOT! And now Buchel is forced into a save as Hamill tries his luck with a volley about 30 yards out that the Oxford keeper takes no risks with, tipping it over the top.
GOAL! OXFORD 1-0 BARNSLEY (CALLUM O'DOWDA)
The League Two side are in front! Hylton with a clever backheel on the right wing to set up MacDonald for a cross and his curling centre to the back post is met by O'Dowda at the back post. Good leap and no chance for Davies in the Barnsley goal!
Barnsley had just had a good few minutes, but you probably would say that Oxford deserve the lead given how well they played early on.
Full of confidence now, O'Dowda beats his man down the left and then looks for Roofe with a cross, but Mawson gets there first and takes a crunching tackle in clearing the ball. He needs treatment.
CLOSE! So close to an equaliser! Another looping ball into the Barnsley box falls Winnall's way and he tries to loop an effort into the corner but the ball drops just wide.
The Tykes look like they want to pull level before half time and they've just had another shot, but Hammill's 20-yard effort was very tame and dribbled wide.
Delight in the yellow end at Wembley!
Isgrove with a neat turn down the right and he looks Winnall with a cross into the middle, but the Tykes' top scorer is muscled out and can't turn it home.
"Roooofe!" chant the Oxford fans after the U's star striker tried a spectacular overhead kick but failed to get it on target.
The U's celebrate O'Dowda's opening goal© Getty Images
Two minutes added on at the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: OXFORD 1-0 BARNSLEY
It's the League Two side who lead at the break then thanks to O'Dowda's header in the 29th minute. Barnsley are still in this, but they need to improve soon. Back shortly for the second half, stay there!
Almost ready for the second half at Wembley and no changes from either manager at the break.
KICKOFF! Barnsley get us back underway. Can the Tykes get back in this?
Tentative start to the second half from both sides. Hylton just tried to get in over the top for Oxford, but he was well offside.
GOAL! OXFORD 1-1 BARNSLEY (CHEYENNE DUNKLEY, OG.)
We're all square! Hammill's inswinging cross from the left is diverted home and Winnall is racing away celebrating, but replays show that it was actually Oxford centre-back
Cheyenne Dunkley who headed it into his own net under pressure from the striker!
Hammill set up the goal and now he's causing problems again, showing great skill to get away down the right before tumbling over in the box. He was looking for the penalty there and Woolmer does well to wave away the appeals.
Winnall is a proper striker. He celebrated that goal like he had definitely scored it, but he must have known it was Dunkley who headed it in.
CHANCE! Great play from Roofe as he turns his man and then surges forward. He has Hylton in support, but overhits his pass to the striker who can't quite reach the ball before Davies.
And now Barnsley threaten as Isgrove is just beaten to the ball in the box by Buchel. This one could go either way!
Just shy of 60,000 at Wembley today
OXFORD SUB: First change from either side as MacDonald, who set up the opener, is replaced by Maguire.
BARNSLEY SUB: The Tykes also make a change and Winnall has to go off. He only just got fit in time to play and has struggled a bit the last few minutes. Toney on up top for the Tykes.
GOAL! OXFORD 1-2 BARNSLEY (ASHLEY FLETCHER)
Barnsley lead! Toney played a big part just moments after coming on. His initial shot was blocked, but Fletcher was alert and on hand to smash past Buchel. What a turnaround at Wembley!
SAVE! What a stop! Oxford look like they've equalised as Sercombe shoots for the corner after a clever lay-off from Hylton, but Davies somehow keeps it out with a firm right hand. Tremendous save!
GOAL! OXFORD 1-3 BARNSLEY (ADAM HAMMILL)
Game over, surely? It's the goal of the game as Hamill dribbles forward from halfway before twisting and turning and eventually curling into the far corner from 20 yards. Fine goal.
GOAL! OXFORD 2-3 BARNSLEY (DANNY HYLTON)
Or not! Oxford get back in it straight away as Hylton plants a superb header into the top corner from Roofe's cross. Game on!
BARNSLEY SUB: Change straight away as Scowen comes on for Isgrove.
OXFORD SUB: No surprise here as Bowery comes on for Oxford, but he takes Hylton's place after a great goal from the latter. Still, fresh legs up top of the U's and they've got 10 minutes to take this to extra time.
BOOKING! The first yellow card arrives after 80 minutes after a rash challenge from Maguire on Scowen.
CHANCE! Opportunity for Hammill to put it to bed, but his shot is blocked well after he faked a shot initially. It's really opened up and either side could get the sixth goal of the match.
SHOT! Barnsley defender Mawson takes on a free kick outside the box and hits it well, Didier Drogba style, but Buchel is behind it and saves fairly comfortably.
OXFORD SUB: Third and final change for the U's as the opening goalscorer O'Dowda comes off for Waring.
Into the final few minutes then and Oxford are pushing here. Can they find an equaliser to send us to extra time?
It's tense out there!
Kenny puts over a fine cross from the right and Waring is sprinting to get there, but it's headed away by Mawson. How much added time will there be?
It's SIX MINUTES! Plenty of time still to go.
BARNSLEY SUB: Last change for the Tykes as Fletcher, scorer of the second goal, comes off for Chapman.
Barnsley doing well to keep possession so far in added time.
BOOKING! Nasty tackle from Toney and he's rightly booked. Barnsley almost there.
FULL-TIME: OXFORD 2-3 BARNSLEY
BARNSLEY WIN THE JOHNSTONE'S PAINT TROPHY!
Delight for the Tykes as they come from 1-0 down to beat Oxford 3-2. What a great second half that was.
Oxford led at the break thanks to O'Dowda's header, but then three goals in 22 minutes put Barnsley in control. Hylton's header got the U's back in it, but they could not find an equaliser as Barnsley held out.
Anyway, that's all we've got time for here. Thanks for joining
SM. I'll leave you with our
match report and urge you to
head this way if you want more live football as Man United vs. Everton is underway.