At Stadium MK on January 9, 2026, football fans were treated to a classic FA Cup spectacle as League Two’s MK Dons pushed Championship side Oxford United to the brink in a third-round tie that had everything: drama, tension, and a penalty shootout that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. With newly appointed Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield watching from the stands, the U’s ultimately survived a fierce test to reach the fourth round for the first time in six seasons, but not before being given a major scare by Paul Warne’s revitalized Dons.
Bloomfield, named Oxford’s new manager just a day prior, observed intently as interim boss Craig Short took charge for the final time. The U’s made six changes from the side beaten at Ipswich on New Year’s Day, hoping fresh legs would help them avoid a cup upset. But from the opening whistle, it was clear that MK Dons, currently flying high in League Two and aiming to prove their mettle, weren’t about to roll over for their higher-ranked visitors.
The home side set the tempo early, with Scott Hogan and Ben Wiles both testing Oxford’s goalkeeper Matt Ingram inside the first quarter of an hour. The U’s suffered a further setback when debutant Jamie Donley was forced off with an injury after just 17 minutes, replaced by another recent signing, Myles Peart-Harris. That early disruption seemed to unsettle Oxford, and the Dons capitalized on their uncertainty.
As the first half wore on, MK Dons continued to press. Their breakthrough came in the 34th minute, the result of a well-worked corner routine. Jack Sanders rose highest to flick the ball on, and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans provided the assist for Aaron Collins, who finished smartly from close range. The goal sent the home crowd into raptures and was no more than the Dons deserved for their enterprising play. Collins nearly doubled the lead just before halftime, only for Ingram to produce a stunning reflex save that kept Oxford in the contest.
Trailing at the break and having barely threatened the Dons’ goal, Oxford needed a spark. They found it just six minutes after the restart, and as so often in cup football, it came from a set piece. Will Vaulks launched a trademark long throw into the box, and as the Dons’ defense hesitated, Will Lankshear pounced, sweeping home his seventh goal of the season to level the match. Suddenly, the tie was wide open again, and the tension in the stadium ratcheted up another notch.
Both sides traded chances as the second half wore on. Ingram was again called into action, saving from Collins and Sanders, while Dons’ keeper Craig MacGillivray produced a superb tip-over to deny Oxford substitute Oli Romeny late in the half. With neither team able to find a winner in regulation, the match headed into extra time—fatigue setting in for both sets of players, but the desire to progress undimmed.
Extra time brought more drama, but no goals. MacGillivray denied both Brian De Keersmaecker and Peart-Harris, while Oxford’s defense held firm against a series of Dons’ forays. Yellow cards and substitutions punctuated the closing stages, with both managers searching for fresh legs and a decisive moment. By the time the referee blew for the end of extra time, it was clear that penalties would be needed to separate these two determined sides.
The shootout was as tense as the preceding 120 minutes. Jack Sanders stepped up first for MK Dons, calmly converting. Jonathan Leko, however, blasted his effort high and wide, handing Oxford an early advantage. Romeny, Mark Harris, Peart-Harris, and Matt Phillips all held their nerve for the U’s, while Jay Matete and Callum Paterson kept the Dons in contention. The decisive moment arrived when Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, needing to score to keep MK Dons alive, saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by Ingram—fittingly, the Oxford keeper who had kept his side in the tie throughout.
As the Oxford players sprinted to celebrate, the relief was palpable. The U’s had survived a major scare, and Bloomfield’s first glimpse of his new side was a reminder of both the magic and the unpredictability of the FA Cup. Interim manager Craig Short, who met Bloomfield in the dressing room post-match, summed up the mood: “It wasn’t pretty at times—I was getting frustrated in the first half because we were forcing it. The lads stuck at it—today was just about getting through. I know MK are in League Two but they’re a good side and I was pleased with that.”
MK Dons boss Paul Warne was understandably proud of his team’s effort, telling BBC Three Counties Radio, “The overall performance I really liked. I thought we had the better of the chances... Generally over the course of the game there wasn’t a lot in it and that’s probably the best compliment I can give my players because at times you wouldn’t know which team was which.” Warne’s project at MK Dons, which began in April 2025, has already yielded a resilient, competitive squad—one that showed it can go toe-to-toe with Championship opposition.
For Oxford United, the result offers a much-needed boost after a patchy league run and a managerial transition. The club’s first appearance in the FA Cup fourth round in six years is a testament to their grit, even if the performance left plenty of room for improvement. With Mark Harris and Will Lankshear leading the line, and Ingram establishing himself as a cup hero, the U’s will hope this victory can serve as a springboard for the rest of their campaign.
Meanwhile, for MK Dons, the disappointment of a narrow cup exit will be tempered by the knowledge that they matched a Championship side stride for stride. Their fans, loud and proud throughout, will take heart from a performance that bodes well for the rest of their League Two season and their ambitions of promotion.
As the dust settles on a pulsating night at Stadium MK, Oxford United can look forward to the fourth round draw, while MK Dons turn their attention back to the league, knowing they pushed their opponents to the absolute limit. That’s what the FA Cup is all about—dreams, drama, and the thrill of the unexpected.
