MICHAEL Appleton admits he is conflicted about whether or not he would like to see Oxford United take Middlesbrough to an Emirates FA Cup replay.

A draw against a Premier League side would represent an excellent result and trigger a lucrative second game at the Kassam Stadium.

But it would also throw United’s fixture schedule, which is already packed, into chaos.

The replay would force the Checkatrade Trophy semi-final at Luton Town on March 1 to be moved to Monday, March 6, prompting the Sky Bet League One meeting with Sheffield United a day later to be rearranged again.

Appleton joked if the scores were level in the closing minutes at the Riverside he would tell United to throw men forward.

“We’ll be going for it, 100 per cent,” he said.

“The chairman would be delighted if it’s a replay.

“I suppose speaking after the game I’d be delighted with it, but beforehand it’s something we don’t particularly want.

“That would mean a massive congestion of games.

“We’ve got an important semi-final as it stands which would be put back to the following week.

“The board would be delighted because it would be another full house. It would be some game.”

The main issue with a fixture pile-up is the impact it would have on United’s chances of gatecrashing the play-off places.

Appleton said: “We’re probably going to have to win ten of the last 16 games to have a chance.

“It’s a long shot, but they are capable of it as they’ve proved over the last couple of months.”