Oxford can invoke spirit of 1986 in relegation fight

Oxford beat QPR 3-0 in the 1986 Milk Cup final at Wembley [Getty Images]

Forty years ago, Oxford United achieved the unthinkable and won the Milk Cup (what we now know as the Carabao Cup).

Jim Smith, the manager who got them to the top flight, was sitting in the opposition dugout at Wembley that day and could only watch in disbelief as his chief scout Maurice Evans instigated a masterclass in 'underdoggery' to beat his QPR favourites and lift the trophy.

In the same season, Evans kept the U's in the First Division against all odds.

Why do I raise this after watching Oxford beat Watford on Saturday?

Because I genuinely felt that Spirit of '86 revitalised in the team and the fans during that game at the Kassam Stadium.

Yellow flags were waving like a semaphore convention and the cheering was as loud as if it were coming from a six-sided stadium, not three.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, Matt Bloomfield's team chased every ball and never gave up, even when Watford looked like they could pinch a goal later in the second half.

You know you have done a good job when the opposing fans boo their players off the pitch at the end.

Oxford United should have got more points out of recent games, yet they are still on for a great escape.

If Maurice Evans' 1986 team did not believe, they would have been out of the cup and the league, but they never stopped believing and that Spirit of '86 needs to be repeated in 2026 as United fight through these last few games.

It is the best asset the club has right now.