Oxford United have a massive incentive to win the FA Cup replay against Barrow – after being handed a plum third-round draw away to Sunderland.

And if the U’s can book a date with the Wearsiders at the Stadium of Light on the weekend of January 2-3, chairman Kelvin Thomas has hinted the team could have a break in Marbella to prepare for the match.

Steve Bruce’s side are among the top ten teams in the land, lying eighth in the Barclays Premier League.

And with a big pay-day assured if United can win the replay, boss Chris Wilder says that Thomas would be prepared to reward them for their achievements.

Wilder said: “The financial situation for both clubs is massive.

“For the replay, we will probably do what we did last time and train at Oldham, then hopefully if we get through, we’ll possibly go away just before the Sunderland game.

“Kelvin has been talking about Marbella and it would be a great incentive for the players.”

Thomas added: “It’s a good draw, I’m pleased with it.

“We’ve got to get through next week, that’s the thing.”

He added: “It’s a great one for our coach, Andy Melville, who of course played for Sunderland.”

However, to reach the third round, United will need to work as hard as they did on Saturday, when they were held 1-1 at the Kassam Stadium after going down to ten men in the first half after centre back Luke Foster was sent off.

The replay at Barrow’s Holker Street is next Tuesday, December 8, and means the Blue Square Premier fixture between Oxford and Hayes & Yeading, scheduled for that night, is postponed.

Although United had been strong favourites to win the tie on their own ground, Wilder said he could not be unhappy with his team after they had to battle for so long with a man short.

“It was a fantastic effort from the players,” he said after the game. “We’re still in the hat and we deserve to be.

“This team have shown that they can play good football, and we’ve also shown now, when it’s backs to the wall, we’ve got a lot of balls about us.

“I’m not disappointed with the players’ efforts at all, I’m proud of them – my team gave me everything.

“We went for it, and even in the last two minutes we were leaving one against one at the back.

“The way Barrow celebrated they obviously think it’s done and dusted, but the tie’s not over yet.”

Before that, though, United will get their minds focused on the league again, starting at Crawley tomorrow.