Michael Appleton is expecting a tricky test when he returns to one of his former clubs with Oxford United in the FA Cup first round.

Last night’s draw handed the U’s an away trip to Grimsby Town, who are eighth in the Vanarama Conference, just 13 places below their opponents in the league pyramid.

Appleton, United’s head coach, had his fingers crossed for a game at the Kassam Stadium, but is optimistic they can progress when the sides meet on the weekend of November 7-10.

He said: “It’s a tough tie, they are a team that not too long ago were playing in the Football League.

Latest United news:

“Like anyone, I think everybody was hoping for a home draw, especially ourselves because our form at home has been pretty good.

“It wasn’t to be, but it’ll be a good opportunity for some of the players on the fringes to get an opportunity, as well as making sure we have a strong enough side to get into the next round.”

He added: “I think everybody in the hat for the first round proper will be thinking ‘if we can win two games you never know there may be an opportunity to have a memorable day out’.

“You have to dream, there’s no point being in it otherwise.”

The U’s have not visited Blundell Park in nine years when United’s currently out-of-favour left back, Tom Newey, was in a Grimsby side, who were held to a 1-1 draw with Chris Hargreaves scoring a late equaliser for the visitors.

And Appleton has not been to the Mariners’ ground for even longer, since a ten-game spell at the club in 1997.

He said: “I played for them on loan when I was a young player at Manchester United.

“It was a bit different then because they were in the Championship, but I really enjoyed my time there and I have some fond memories of the place.”

United have reached the third round for the past two years and last season netted a very welcome windfall.

Wins against Gateshead and Wrexham were both broadcast live on BT Sport, generating £150,000 in prize- money and TV receipts.

Given the draw, there is a chance the fixture would be considered for television by the BBC or BT Sport.

Mark Ashton, United’s chief executive, said: “That would be an added bonus.

“We always budget to go out in the first round because that’s prudent.

“It’s more about taking the game seriously.

“Grimsby is never an easy place to go and get a result, that’s for sure.

“We have to believe in ourselves and do the right things.”

FA CUP 1ST ROUND DRAW

Mansfield v Concord

Gosport v Colchester

Yeovil v Crawley

York v AFC Wimbledon

Walsall v Shrewsbury

Notts County v Accrington Stanley

Chorley or FC Halifax v Bradford City

Warrington Town v Exeter City

Eastleigh v Alfreton or Lincoln City

Basingstoke or Harrow Borough v Spennymoor or AFC Telford

Dagenham & Redbridge v Tamworth or Southport

Weston-Super-Mare v Doncaster

Peterborough v Carlisle

Cheltenham v Swindon

Bromley v Dartford

Weymouth or Braintree v Chesterfield

Chelmsford or Barnet v Wycombe

Gillingham v Bristol City

Portsmouth v Aldershot

Norton or Shildon v Gateshead

Crewe v Sheffield United

Grimsby v Oxford United

Tranmere v Bristol Rovers

Southend v Chester FC

Luton v Newport County

Stevenage v Maidstone United

Bury v Nuneaton or Hemel Hempstead

Cambridge Utd v Fleetwood

Northampton v Rochdale E

astbourne or Dover v Morecambe

Port Vale v MK Dons

Macclesfield or Wrexham v Woking

Plymouth v AFC Fylde

Barnsley v Burton

Hartlepool v East Thurrock

Coventry v Worcester City

Oldham v Leyton Orient

Canvey Island or Havant & Waterlooville v Preston

Blyth Spartans v Altrincham

Forest Green v Scunthorpe.

Ties to be played on Nov 7-10.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.