Coventry 6-2 Oxford United: Kasey Palmer scores wonder goal as Championship side thrash League One outfit in crazy match to reach FA Cup fourth round
- Mark Robins' men produced a dominant display to progress from round three
- Palmer was the star of the show before Matty Godden scored twice late on
- It's about survival! FA Cup replays must continue for the good of English football It all starts
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They say the FA Cup has lost its magic. Tell that to Coventry, who featured in another third round thriller as they defeated Oxford United.
It's almost a year since Coventry were dumped out of the competition by National League Wrexham on the same stage and in the same venue in a seven-goal match with a red card.
And there were eight, four of which – including a 30-yard wonder goal from Coventry's Kasey Palmer – came within the opening 19 minutes, ensuring the Championship side were not on the wrong side of a setback for the second season in a row.
Mark Robins' men took the lead through Joel Latibeaudiere's header from a Josh Eccles corner, but Oxford – backed by a support of 3,000, many of whom had made their journey from heavily flooded areas – equalized shortly afterwards.
Palmer was the guilty party as he gave the ball away and, after neat work from the League One side, Mark Harris' shot from outside the area took a deflection and found its way past Coventry goalkeeper Ben Wilson.
Kasey Palmer produced a moment of magic as Coventry defeated Oxford United 6-2
Just 60 seconds later the hosts were back in front when Ellis Simms' pull-back was sent home by Coventry captain Ben Sheaf.
Palmer then made amends for his earlier mistake when he collected the ball over thirty yards out, cleverly turned his man and unleashed a sensational strike that flew into the top corner. We may not see a better one in the league all season.
Coventry started the second half as they had started the first and were 4-1 up just five minutes later, with Palmer back in the thick of it.
After a neat exchange with Callum O'Hare, Palmer hit his volley wide, only to be cleared by Oxford defender Ciaron Brown. O'Hare stepped up and coolly converted the resulting penalty.
Tyler Goodrham's 20-yard drive reduced the deficit but it proved little more than a consolation as Matty Godden came off the bench to score a well-taken brace inside four minutes.
Oxford's afternoon went from bad to worse when substitute Stan Mills was stretchered off in stoppage time.
Coventry fans had mercilessly serenaded their visiting counterparts with chants of '4-1 on your big day out' and later reminded them how many of their heroes had found the net.
Those jubilant supporters are now hoping for a big day of their own when the draw for the fourth round takes place on Monday.