KARL Robinson hopes another big Oxford United attendance tonight will begin to convert a ‘lost generation’ of supporters.

A crowd of 10,450 watched the 4-0 win over West Ham United in the Carabao Cup last month.

And sales could reach five figures again for Sunderland’s fourth-round visit this evening.

Victory would put the U’s into the quarter-finals for the first time since 1987/88 and Robinson believes occasions like this can make a big difference to the fanbase.

He said: “This is one for the fans.

“The West Ham game was the same and we can all enjoy it.

“Regardless of the result we’ll be proud of what we’ve achieved.

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“We’ve had one of the most memorable nights at that stadium and it’s a game we won’t forget, but it would be lovely to be in the quarter-finals.”

He added: “You could argue we’ve lost a generation.

“If you grew up in the years when things were getting difficult and seeing most of your games at Grenoble Road you’d think there’s not been many good days.

“It’s so easy now to support a team that’s 200 miles away and know everything about them. It wasn’t the case 20 years ago.

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“We need to get the next generation of fans in and I think cup competitions are one of the ways you can do it.

“We hope we can put a performance on and you never know we could capture the imagination of a few more kids who have had a Manchester United or Chelsea shirt on.

“Maybe we could put that yellow top on and make them proud of where they’re from.

“It means so much to me and the players that people are getting excited.”