author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

That's all from us here as Oxford take their place at Wembley with a shoot-out win over Portsmouth.

The second semi-final second leg has just started and you can find out whether it will be Wycombe or Fleetwood who the U's will face in next Monday's play-off final by following our live coverage here.

6 July 2020 7:50 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

FULL-TIME: Oxford United 1-1 Portsmouth (2-2 agg) (5-4 pens)

Oxford are through to the League One play-off final at Wembley, and in what dramatic fashion!

The U's were perfect from the spot, and Cameron Brannigan found the bottom corner with the final penalty after Cameron McGeehan had his effort saved by Simon Eastwood.

6 July 2020 7:47 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Pens: Oxford 5-4 Portsmouth

Brannigan to win it for Oxford... he scores!

6 July 2020 7:45 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Pens: Oxford 4-4 Portsmouth

Portsmouth must now score... and Hawkins does exactly that!

6 July 2020 7:44 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Pens: Oxford 4-3 Portsmouth

Oxford can take the lead with this... Mousinho scores!

6 July 2020 7:43 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Pens: Oxford 3-3 Portsmouth

McGeehan with the next... it's saved by Eastwood!

6 July 2020 7:43 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Pens: Oxford 3-3 Portsmouth

Taylor steps up for Oxford and scores!

6 July 2020 7:42 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Pens: Oxford 2-3 Portsmouth

Brown next for Pompey and it's scored emphatically!

6 July 2020 7:41 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Pens: Oxford 2-2 Portsmouth

Forde is the second taker for Oxford and he scores as well!

6 July 2020 7:41 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Pens: Oxford 1-2 Portsmouth

Evans is next for Pompey and scores!

6 July 2020 7:40 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Pens: Oxford 1-1 Portsmouth

Woodburn steps up for the first Oxford penalty and scores!

6 July 2020 7:39 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Pens: Oxford 0-1 Portsmouth

Portsmouth go first... and Marquis scores.

6 July 2020 7:39 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

The penalties will be taken in front of the cardboard cut-outs, with the sun in the eyes of the goalkeepers.

6 July 2020 7:38 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

FULL-TIME (ET): Oxford United 1-1 Portsmouth (2-2 agg)

It will be a penalty shoot-out to decide who goes to Wembley.

6 July 2020 7:34 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

120' Morris shepherds Forde off the ball. Pompey hit long, Curtis chases down Mousinho and concedes the throw. Another substitution, this time for Pompey as experienced Evans replaces Bolton.

6 July 2020 7:33 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

119' Bass loses a ball under pressure from Hawkins but he gets the foul. Late changes for Oxford as club captain Mousinho and Liverpool loanee and Welsh international Woodburn come on. Gorrin and Long make way.

6 July 2020 7:31 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

118' Oxford get another throw and Ruffels tries a long one, but Burgess clears. A cross then comes in but Bass claims.

6 July 2020 7:30 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

117' Hawkins is offside from a long ball. Bolton heads Eastwood's free kick out for a throw, then nips the ball off Forde for another.

6 July 2020 7:29 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

115' So nearly disaster! Eastwood's clearance is whacked against Hawkins charging the goalkeeper down, but thankfully for him it runs out of play.

6 July 2020 7:28 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

115' Hawkins replaces Williams for Portsmouth, two up top for them in the closing stages.

6 July 2020 7:26 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

114' Agyei breaks forward but can't get a pass out left with Taylor in a great position. Curtis then goes for a volley from 20 yards out but it's way over.

6 July 2020 7:26 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

113' Williams is found in plenty of space but his cross is intercepted by the first man. Portsmouth win it back but Marquis has a cross blocked.

6 July 2020 7:25 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

112' McGeehan gets the ball out to Williams and he goes for goal but curls over from outside the area.

6 July 2020 7:24 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

110' Big chance! A short corner is crossed in by Brown and Marquis has a header four yards out, but the striker nods it wide!

6 July 2020 7:22 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

110' Williams looks to cross low from the right for Portsmouth, Moore deflects it behind for a corner.

6 July 2020 7:21 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

108' Cannon is a little too forceful as he tries to control a ball. Manages to catch Gorrin with both elbows in the space of half a second which is impressive.

6 July 2020 7:21 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

107' Bad foul from Taylor, who goes in late and recklessly on McGeehan. It gets a yellow but it's another that could have been a different colour.

6 July 2020 7:19 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

106' Curtis is caught offside from McGeehan's classy cross-field ball.

6 July 2020 7:18 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

106' Back underway.

6 July 2020 7:17 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

HALF-TIME (ET): Oxford United 1-1 Portsmouth (2-2 agg)

Still no further goals. This is getting very tense. 15 minutes to go before penalties will be required.

6 July 2020 7:15 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

105+1' Forde's corner is cleared by Raggett. One extra minute to be played.

6 July 2020 7:14 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

105' Successive Oxford throws keep the pressure on in the final minute, and Agyei then wins a corner off Curtis.

6 July 2020 7:13 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

103' Bass is forced to slice a clearance out of play and Raggett intercepts for another Oxford throw. There's then a nasty challenge from Gorrin on Cannon and the man from Tenerife is shown a yellow. The studs are showing and it could potentially have been a red.

6 July 2020 7:12 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

100' Oxford make another change as Henry is replaced by Forde.

6 July 2020 7:09 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

98' Oxford keep a deep Hanson cross alive and Taylor gets the chance to shoot, with Bolton blocking for a corner which is then claimed by the keeper.

6 July 2020 7:07 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

97' Brown goes for a shot from the free kick and hits the free kick, before a foul goes the other way to give Oxford possession again.

6 July 2020 7:06 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

96' Ruffels blocks a Williams cross out for a Portsmouth corner. The cross is cleared but Agyei then gives away a free kick in a central position.

6 July 2020 7:04 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

95' Hanson puts in a good challenge to win the ball back for Oxford. They pass patiently until Long puts a little too much on a pass forward looking for the run of Henry.

6 July 2020 7:03 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

92' Curtis steps up for the free kick but fires over the bar again.

6 July 2020 7:01 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

92' Marquis gets to a ball first and Dickie brings him down at the expense of a yellow card.

6 July 2020 6:59 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

91' The teams will attack the same way for this first period of extra time, with Oxford kicking off.

6 July 2020 6:58 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

FULL-TIME: Oxford United 1-1 Portsmouth (2-2 agg)

The biggest drama in the second half has come in injury time, where Oxford should have had a penalty and Rob Dickie then missed a glorious chance with the final act.

These sides couldn't be separated all season in the league table and they've drawn all three times they've played. Will they finally be separated in these next 30 minutes?

6 July 2020 6:57 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

90+6' What a chance! It's Dickie again, the skipper rises above everyone but heads just wide! Extra time, it will be...

6 July 2020 6:54 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

90+5' Dickie meets Henry's free kick put can't direct on target. They do now have a corner though...

6 July 2020 6:54 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

90+4' Cannon finds Brown down the left but his cross is cleared. Oxford now have a free kick in a very promising position as Agyei this time does win a foul, McGeehan the man culpable. He gets a yellow.

6 July 2020 6:52 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

90+2' Somehow Oxford don't have a penalty - Brown has a hold of Agyei's shirt for what seems an age, and yet the officials see nothing.

6 July 2020 6:51 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

90' Oxford probe further but Henry's pass is in front of Long and runs out for a goal kick. There are five more minutes before extra time will be necessary.

6 July 2020 6:49 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

89' Curtis beats Long but has to cross early and only finds the gloves of Eastwood. At the other end Bolton makes a block from another Oxford strike from outside the box.

6 July 2020 6:48 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

87' Gorrin leaves a forearm on Williams but faces no punishment. Agyei makes a superb break but has too much thinking time, Brown puts him under enough pressure and he prods against the outside of the post and wide.

6 July 2020 6:47 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

85' Ruffels flies into the box from left-back to meet a header from a Taylor cross but missed the goal. Oxford make two more substitutions as Agyei and Hanson come on for Browne and Sykes.

6 July 2020 6:44 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

83' Portsmouth have some crosses to deal with as Oxford mount another attack. Brown then comes out on top in a grappling match with Sykes.

6 July 2020 6:42 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

81' Brannigan is the latest to have an ambitious crack at goal and shoots wide of the near post. Another chance coming for Pompey as Cannon comes on for goalscorer Harness in attacking midfield.

6 July 2020 6:40 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

79' Williams gets a cross past Ruffels but Harness only prods tamely towards Eastwood. At the other end Taylor brings the ball down in the box but can't find Browne.

6 July 2020 6:38 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

78' Harness creates half a chance with a good one-two with Curtis, he has the ability to curl it into the top corner from this position but misses the target on this occasion.

6 July 2020 6:37 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

77' Dickie gets a strong head to a threatening Bolton cross. There are more verbal disagreements on the pitch, things heating up as the clock winds down.

6 July 2020 6:36 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

73' Browne is shown a yellow card after a bizarre passage in which players on both sides play around with the ball following a foul and there are words flying from both teams.

6 July 2020 6:32 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

71' Curtis wins a 50/50 and Portsmouth move the ball down the left before Williams crosses. Oxford clear and McGeehan goes for an effort from distance but it lacks both power and accuracy.

6 July 2020 6:30 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

POST!

69' Curtis hangs a great cross up for Marquis at the back post and he heads it against the woodwork!

6 July 2020 6:28 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

66' Sykes is fouled strongly by Brown as he crossed from the right byline but the advantage was played so they won't get a free kick. Portsmouth then do for a foul by Moore though, as the game heats up. Good time for a drinks break to calm things down.

6 July 2020 6:25 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

64' Marquis has quickly got himself in bother and receives the second yellow card of the match for a swinging elbow on Dickie.

6 July 2020 6:23 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

63' It's Oxford's time for a change now and it's a change of striker for them too. Mackie makes way for top scorer Taylor.

6 July 2020 6:22 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

60' Three Pompey men stand over the ball for a well-rehearsed free-kick routine but Curtis ends up putting it over the bar. Harrison and Seddon are replaced by Marquis and Brown as the away side make changes at left-back and up front.

6 July 2020 6:20 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

59' Another free kick for Portsmouth, this time in a very good position, after a high foot from Browne as he and Curtis went for a ball.

6 July 2020 6:18 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

57' Curtis is far from pleased with Long after a foul from the Oxford full-back, who goes into the book after the handbags are put away.

6 July 2020 6:17 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

56' Oxford do like to have a go from distance and Henry in particular. He tries another on the half-volley and yet again it's off target.

6 July 2020 6:15 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

54' Oxford get another free kick in a similar position on the right. Henry crosses dangerously towards the back post but Bolton does well to deny Ruffels a chance.

6 July 2020 6:13 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

52' Seddon concedes a free kick for a push in the back of Sykes competing for a header. Moore heads the free kick from the edge of the box but can't steer the effort on target.

6 July 2020 6:11 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

48' Henry plays a very nice pass forward onto the run of Sykes, but his chip into the box is headed away by Bolton. Good start to the second half from Oxford here.

6 July 2020 6:07 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

47' Dangerous cross comes in from the right for Oxford but Mackie can't quite get on the end of it.

6 July 2020 6:06 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

46' Oxford get the second half underway.

6 July 2020 6:04 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

HALF-TIME: Oxford United 1-1 Portsmouth (2-2 agg)

A first half with more fight than flair, but it was all going so well for Portsmouth with Marcus Harness putting them ahead.

But in the last action of the first half disaster struck, as Ellis Harrison headed into his own net from a corner. Is that the piece of luck Oxford need to kick on after a poor first-half performance?

6 July 2020 5:52 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

GOAL! Oxford United 1-1 Portsmouth (2-2 agg)

45+3' Own goal! From the corner, Bass fails to catch it under pressure from his own striker Harrison and it's gone in!

6 July 2020 5:49 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

45+3' Burgess stands up well to block an effort from Brannigan after good play from Browne.

6 July 2020 5:48 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

45+2' A really poor ball from Henry out wide is cleared by Burgess, and that just about sums up Oxford's lack of threat.

6 July 2020 5:48 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

45' Three added minutes in the first half. Oxford with most of the possession at the moment.

6 July 2020 5:46 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

43' Raggett wins the header and Williams clears out of play. Oxford lose the ball but are then gifted it back, and Henry has another go from outside the box but it lacks the power to trouble Bass.

6 July 2020 5:44 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

42' A foul from goalscorer Harness gives Oxford their first chance for a response with a free kick.

6 July 2020 5:42 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

GOAL! Oxford United 0-1 Portsmouth (1-2 agg)

38' Harness gives Pompey the lead! Bass hits long from his box, Harrison wins the header and knocks it down for Harness who hits an unstoppable strike past Eastwood!

6 July 2020 5:40 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

37' First big chance for Portsmouth as Williams's cross is missed by Long at the back post and finds Harrison. He has to hit the shot quickly from point-black range and Eastwood makes himself big to save.

6 July 2020 5:38 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

35' Balls keep being won and lost by both teams with neither keeping much possession or getting into particularly dangerous areas with it. Very, very scrappy.

6 July 2020 5:36 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

30' Browne takes a foul from Bolton on the halfway line. Both sides giving as good as they get in a competitive first half.

6 July 2020 5:31 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

29' Harness makes a direct run into the box but Dickie comes in with an uncompromising challenge to take the ball off him. The defender was immense in the first leg and has been just as mean so far today.

6 July 2020 5:30 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

28' Replays from the previous incident show that Portsmouth had a good penalty claim with Moore getting handsy on Harrison. At the other end, Moore gets ahead of Burgess to meet a free kick but heads it over.

6 July 2020 5:29 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

26' Seddon beats him man to get down the ling wing and cross. After an initial clearance, McGeehan whacks a shot towards goal but Gorrin gets in front of it to block.

6 July 2020 5:27 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

22' Long blocks a Curtis cross for a Portsmouth corner, but the Harness delivery is picked up and swept away by the swirling wind around the ground. Time for the drinks break.

6 July 2020 5:23 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

20' Bass punches the corner away strongly and Harness then looks to break, but he's fouled on halfway by the challenge of Gorrin.

6 July 2020 5:21 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

19' An ambitious effort from Browne earns Oxford their first corner of the game.

6 July 2020 5:20 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

18' Chance for Pompey! Williams is found in behind again and delivers a fantastic ball for Harrison, but Dickie managers to do enough to put him off so the striker can't hit the target.

6 July 2020 5:19 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

17' A long cross-field pass from McGeehan is right on the money and finds Williams, but his cross into the box is cleared by Gorrin.

6 July 2020 5:17 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

15' Williams makes a brilliant run down the right wing for Portsmouth but Browne sticks with him stride-for-stride and slides in at the expense of a corner.

6 July 2020 5:16 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

14' There's another heavy challenge from McGeehan and he can't be far from a yellow card now. It's been a competitive start to this one, as you would expect with what is at stake.

6 July 2020 5:14 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

11' McGeehan is given nothing more than a talking-to from the referee after a mistimed challenge on Sykes in midfield.

6 July 2020 5:12 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

9' Oxford have a nice patient spell of possession but it ends with Henry having an impatient strike from 30 yards out which flies high above goal.

6 July 2020 5:10 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

6' Portsmouth win a free kick wide on their left but Harness's delivery into the box is headed away by the hosts.

6 July 2020 5:07 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

3' Chance for Mackie! It comes from nowhere as Morris loses the ball and it's slipped through to the striker, but Bass makes the save.

6 July 2020 5:04 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

1' Great run down the left by Harness but Oxford eventually get back to crowd him out and win the ball back.

6 July 2020 5:02 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

KICK-OFF!

After all players take the knee, Portsmouth get the game started.

6 July 2020 5:01 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Before kick-off, there is a minute's applause once again for the NHS. Between these two teams there have been six players who have had Covid-19, so the clubs know full well how important the service has been the past few months.

6 July 2020 4:59 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

The teams are out, with both in their usual colours for this second leg. Portsmouth's players were onto the pitch a good couple of minutes before Oxford but both are ready now.

It was 1-1 in the first leg, so this is effectively a straight shoot-out tonight for a place in next Monday's play-off final at Wembley.

6 July 2020 4:58 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

'More of the same' for Jackett

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett said:  “I don’t think there was too much wrong with what we did on Friday and so we’re looking for more of the same.

“The best side on the day usually wins and I always felt it was going to be a close contest between two sides who finished the season on 60 points.

“We have to be physically and mentally prepared, as well as seeing what we can learn tactically from the first game.”

6 July 2020 4:30 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Robinson confident with U's

Looking ahead to the game, Oxford head coach Karl Robinson said: "It’s a shame we can’t have a night with the fans like those old cup nights at the Manor Ground but we will have an intensity and we certainly know what it means to the fans.

“We have recovered and we have trained and now it becomes a one-off game, a cup tie. Win it and you are at Wembley. Sometimes being level might even be better than leading, if that doesn’t sound too weird, because you can get stuck between two ideas; sit back and protect the lead or go out and get at the opposition again.

“I think we are in a good place, but Portsmouth will think the same. We are just looking forward to being back on our own pitch where we have a fantastic record at home, and looking forward to putting in what we hope will be a winning performance.”

6 July 2020 4:27 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Team news: Portsmouth

There are three changes for Portsmouth for the second leg as they look for the win at the Kassam Stadium.

Both full-backs have been changed, with James Bolton replacing Ross McCrorie on the right and Steve Seddon taking over from Lee Brown on the left.

The other change is in attacking midfield, where Andy Cannon has been replaced by Ryan Williams.

6 July 2020 4:09 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Team news: Oxford United

Oxford have made two changes to the side which started at Fratton Park on Friday night.

Striker Matty Taylor and midfielder Ben Woodburn, loanees from Bristol City and Liverpool respectively, are on the bench, with Jamie Mackie and Mark Sykes taking their places in the starting line-up.

6 July 2020 4:06 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Line-ups

Oxford: Eastwood; Long, Dickie, Moore, Ruffels; Gorrin, Sykes, Brannagan; Browne, Mackie, Henry.

Subs: Stevens, Taylor, Woodburn, Forde, Mousinho, Hanson, Agyei, Atkinson, Kelly.

Portsmouth: Bass; Bolton, Burgess, Raggett, Seddon; McGeehan, Morris; Williams, Harness, Curtis; Harrison.

Subs: MacGillivray, Brown, Naylor, Downing, Hawkins, Marquis, Cannon, McCrorie, Evans.

6 July 2020 4:02 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

An hour to go!

We're an hour away from kick-off in this second leg with the scores finely poised as Oxford and Portsmouth battle for a place in the play-off final at Wembley.

Team news will be on the way shortly...

6 July 2020 4:00 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Match preview

For everything you need to know ahead of the clash, check out James Crossan's match preview here.

You can also remind yourself of what happened in the first leg with our match report and live coverage from Friday.

5 July 2020 6:47 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

How to watch

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. If you can't watch it, stay here for live updates on VAVEL.

5 July 2020 6:45 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Jackett wants Pompey pressure

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett was also looking immediately towards the second leg after Friday’s draw.

“We have to make sure that we put as much pressure on Oxford as we can on Monday night - and they will obviously be looking to do the same to us," Jackett mused after the first leg.

“It’s 1-1. The match was always going to go into the second leg, both sides finished on 60 points and it just shows you it’s set up for the second leg.”

5 July 2020 6:42 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Robinson happy with tie level

Oxford boss Karl Robinson is relishing the chance to reach Wembley with his side on Monday.

“We go again on Monday and it will be an even better game I hope," he said.

After an impressive showing at Fratton Park, the U's return to Oxfordshire knowing that a home victory will be enough to take them to the final. Robinson is pleased with the start to the tie his side have made.

“If this was in the league, I think the fans would be saying what a fantastic away performance," Robinson said.

“We were both coming up against very good teams. I think we’ll all take that.”

5 July 2020 6:40 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Predicted line-ups

Oxford: Eastwood; Ruffels, Dickie, Moore, Long; Gorrin, Sykes, Woodburn; Browne, Taylor, Henry.

Portsmouth: Bass; McCrorie, Burgess, Raggett, Brown; Morris, McGeehan; Harness, Cannon, Curtis; Harrison.

5 July 2020 6:38 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Team news: Portsmouth

Jack Whatmough was the Pompey player who hadn't been training because of coronavirus concerns while his partner was pregnant. She gave birth on Friday morning, but the defender is not expected to play a part in this match.

Bryn Morris made a first appearance in 15 months in the first leg, while skipper Tom Naylor is pushing for a recall having only been on the bench.

5 July 2020 6:35 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Team news: Oxford United

Midfielder Cameron Brannigan will be assessed ahead of this game after limping off with suspected cramp in the first leg on Friday.

Both Matty Taylor and Marcus Browne were risked at Fratton Park but both came through the match unscathed to the relief of head coach Karl Robinson.

5 July 2020 6:30 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Wembley place at stake

The tie is finely poised with the sides level at 1-1 after the first leg, making it impossible to call which of these sides will make it to the play-off final at Wembley.

Portsmouth fell at this stage last season against Sunderland while it is a first-ever EFL play-off campaign for Oxford, who have - or perhaps don't have - home advantage here.

5 July 2020 6:28 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Kick-off time

Oxford United vs Portsmouth will be played at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford, with kick-off at 5pm.

5 July 2020 6:25 PM BST
author
Stephen IbbetsonLive reporter

Welcome!

Welcome to VAVEL.com’s live coverage of the League Two play-off semi-final second leg between Oxford United and Portsmouth.

My name is Stephen Ibbetson and I’ll be your host for the game with pre-match analysis, team news and live updates.

5 July 2020 6:24 PM BST