OXFORD United are urging fans to ditch their cars for the visit of Premier League champions Manchester City.

With a capacity crowd expected at the Kassam Stadium for Tuesday's Carabao Cup third round clash, the club 'strongly recommends' supporters use public transport if possible.

United have laid on extra transport options for the 7.45pm kick off, including a park and ride facility from Unipart on Garsington Road.

This is a first for the club, while a second OX3 Football Special bus will be running for supporters coming from West Oxfordshire.

Chairman Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth said: "It's going to be a fantastic occasion with a capacity crowd and we want to make sure people get here as easily as possible.

"We wanted to have a full and detailed plan and the park and ride is a practical way for fans to get here.

"We hope this is the start of many more big games at United and we urge fans to get here as soon as possible to cheer on Karl Robinson and the team."

Oxford Mail:

STARDUST: A sell out crowd is expected for the visit of Manchester City's internationals, including Spain's David Silva Pic: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

United sold all home tickets for the game against Pep Guardiola's men just eight days after they went on sale to season ticket holders and members.

The final few spaces were snapped up last Wednesday, two days before they were due to go on general sale.

City's 1,197 tickets also sold out within a matter of days, meaning almost 12,000 fans will converge on Minchery Farm on Tuesday evening.

While it will not beat the stadium record of 12,243, set in May 2006 against Leyton Orient - a 3-2 defeat that saw United relegated from the Football League - there has not been an occasion like this in more than 18 months.

It is the club's first sell out since January 2017, when Michael Appleton's men beat Newcastle United 3-0 in the FA Cup fourth round.

But with roadworks on the A4074 near Heyford Hill and normal rush hour traffic, United are worried some fans could miss kick off.

The park and ride, just two miles from the stadium, enables supporters to leave their car in a secure location at a cost of £5 per car and travel the last leg of the journey by bus.

Buses depart every 12 minutes, with the first leaving at 5.45pm and then approximately every 12 minutes until 7.15pm.

They will then return to Unipart on a shuttle basis from the Knights Road bus stop in Blackbird Leys, just five minutes walk from the ground, after the match.

Car park passes can be purchased online, by phone or in person at the ticket office.

Both OX3 buses, which pick up from Carterton, Brize Norton, Witney and Eynsham, will depart 10 minutes earlier than normal.

Meanwhile, the OX7 service from Kidlington, Summertown, Marston and Headington will operate with one double-decker at the normal departure times.

The club has also encouraged fans to use one of the several Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach services that drop off close to the stadium.

Supporters living in Blackbird Leys, Greater Leys, Littlemore, Sandford-on-Thames and parts of Cowley have been asked to consider walking or cycling.

It promises to be another memorable night in the competition for the club, who lifted the trophy in 1986 with a 3-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers at Wembley.

Since moving to the Kassam in 2001, few high-profile opponents have graced the turf at Minchery Farm.

In January 2003, United lost 2-0 at Arsenal in the FA Cup third round, but Tuesday's fixture ends 15 years without a competitive match against one of England's superclubs.