JAMIE Cook will be watching on tonight knowing how it feels to beat Manchester City as an Oxford United fan and player.

At just 18, the former forward was on the scoresheet with Joey Beauchamp in a 2-0 win at Maine Road in 1998.

Cook will be amongst the sell-out crowd at the Kassam Stadium this evening as United bid to stun the Carabao Cup holders in the third round.

While the clubs could not have more contrasting fortunes now, the Division 1 fixture 20 years ago, played in front of more than 28,000 supporters, was between two sides who were battling at the wrong end of the second-tier table.

City went down that season, but now they travel to United, who are second bottom in Sky Bet League One, as Premier League champions and overriding favourites.

The fixture holds particular significance for Cook, as he marked only a third senior start with his first goal for the club.

“It was 20 years ago, but it still feels like it was yesterday,” said the 39-year-old.

“It was a long ball over the top and I was 18 so I was quite quick then.

“I beat the defender and I was one-on-one with the keeper, but he saved my shot.

“I’d hit it reasonably well and it came back to me and I got a second chance and I managed to put it in – it was amazing.

“I took a lot of stick over my celebration. It was my first big goal and I didn’t know what to do. I just sort of jumped around on the spot a little bit.

“Something that will be a lasting memory is how deafeningly quiet it went.

“I scored in front of the home supporters and the Oxford fans were at the far end.

“I thought surely it should not be this quiet - it was a strange feeling.

“It was a massive game, a bit of a relegation battle, and it was a big win for us.”

City lost to then League One side Wigan Athletic in last season’s Emirates FA Cup.

But Cook knows it will take something special for his former side to match that.

He said: “You never know, it’s a one-off game.

“But they took it quite seriously last year and whatever side they put out will be strong.”