Making a Manager - The Story

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Oxford City are the gift that keeps on giving. The magic of the FA Cup has shown itself again as the National League leaders shocked EFL Championship side Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium. The Oxfordshire-based club scored twice from set-piece plays to beat Tony Pulis' side 2-1 in what was a very controlled performance from the underdogs.

The aftermath of the game proved to be quite a hostile one as Wigan Athletic manager Tony Pulis appeared to assault Oxford City manager Ryan Ferguson in a completely unprovoked manner, striking the young manager with his fist as Ferguson looked to shake his hand post-game. Pulis was escorted away from Ferguson by security shortly after with the FA looking to investigate the incident.

Oxford City were without long term absentee club captain Josh Ashby, who had picked up a lower back stress fracture in the past month, but were playing brightly in the opening minutes. Kabongo Tshimanga and Ryan Longman, in particular, were causing the Wigan defence problems with their runs in behind, leaving the hosts chasing shadows at times.

Despite Oxford City's early dominance, it was Wigan Athletic who took the lead, although with a great slice of luck. From a corner, Wigan worked the ball into the back post area. Oxford City defender Ben Jefford looked to clear the ball but sliced his clearance into the top corner of his own goal, much to his embarrassment. Wigan manager Tony Pulis celebrated quite obscenely, as he appeared to mock the Oxford City bench, who were quite distraught with the manner of the goal conceded.

Oxford City found an equaliser midway through the first half from a set-piece of their own. Ryan Longman's wide delivery caused panic in the box and defender Charlie Clough had two bites of the cherry, seeing his initial strike blocked before smashing the rebound into the back of the net, leveling the score. Objects were thrown onto the pitch from the Wigan fans, who were less than pleased to concede to a team three divisions below them.

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The hostility from the home fans continued, with the stadium announcer requiring to caution the fans several times throughout the first half. On the pitch, Oxford City continued to stretch the Wigan defence with quick passing between the lines and behind the back line. However, City could not find a second goal in the first half.

Ryan Longman played like a man possessed in the second half, and nearly scored an incredible goal just minutes after kick-off. The teenage attacker picked up the ball on the halfway line before running at Wigan's defence at pace. He skipped between two challenges before unleashing a swerving drive at goal. Wigan goalkeeper Osman Hadzikic did just enough to deflect the ball away from the top corner.

Hadzikic was called into action again soon after as Ryan Longman looked to assert himself on the game. Longman played an incredible over-the-top ball for Nosa Iyamu who struck the ball first-time in the penalty area, only to see his shot acrobatically tipped over the bar by the alert Hadzikic, who had come to Wigan's rescue once more.

Oxford City deservedly took the lead late on through another set-piece, as Nathan Ferguson buried in a back post header from Rob Sinclair's excellent corner delivery. The goal sent Oxford City's fans into hysteria, with Wigan's supporters, once again, throwing objects onto the pitch in protest.

Hadzikic deserved a knighthood after his performance, keeping Wigan in the game with a number of incredible saves late on. He first denied Rob Sinclair, who had struck an incredibly sweet volley from the edge of the area. He then stopped Kabongo Tshimanga from getting on the score sheet, as he raced off his line to smother the striker's effort after Longman had played Tshimanga through on goal.

The game ended in some scenes, with Wigan fans and players showing no professionalism or sportsmanship. The referee was berated and Tony Pulis appeared to punch Ryan Ferguson in frustration, completely unprovoked. Pulis screamed at Ferguson, in protest of how Ferguson won the game through two set-piece goals. The irony.

Oxford City will find out who they face in the Fourth Round on Monday, before returning to league action against Morecambe on Tuesday. An away fixture against Boreham Wood awaits them next weekend.

Wigan Athletic will face Sunderland in the league next weekend. The club is likely to face sanctions for failing to control their players, staff and supporters in an ugly turn of events throughout the game.

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Oxford City were rewarded for beating Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup Third Round with a home game against EFL League Two side Colchester United in the Fourth Round. The game will be played at Kassam Stadium, Oxford City's temporary home, on Sunday 26th January and will be televised on Sky Sports 2.

Oxford City have had an incredible FA Cup tournament to date. They first defeated Bognor Regis Town in the fourth qualifying round before defeating Wycombe Wanderers in the First Round. A 5-5 thriller against city rivals Oxford United followed in the Second Round, with Oxford City progressing following an exciting penalty shootout in the replay. Oxford City completely dominated EFL Championship side Wigan Athletic in the Second Round, a game marred by the actions of Wigan's players, staff and fans, with Tony Pulis striking Oxford City's manager Ryan Ferguson without any justifiable reason.

Colchester United have had a strong FA Cup campaign to date too, overcoming a number of tricky fixtures. First Round victory over Salford City set the tone as they then went on to beat Crawley Town in the Second Round. Colchester United then came out on top in a thrilling eight-goal game against Oldham Athletic in the Third Round to book a place in the Fourth Round.

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Despite playing in a lower division, Oxford City are slight favourites for the upcoming Fourth Round clash. Oxford City have defied all expectations in the league, leading the way by some distance, and have proven on multiple occasions that they are leagues ahead of their current standings. Impressive victories over teams in higher divisions, including a dominating display against EFL Championship side Wigan Athletic, have had the media purring over City.

Oxford City will be without captain and star player Josh Ashby. The midfielder picked up a lower back stress fracture in December and has no set return date. The midfielder would be likely to miss a Fifth Round fixture, should Oxford City progress to that stage, and may miss most of the remaining games this season.

Oxford City manager Ryan Ferguson was excited by the draw and made public his admiration for Colchester United. Ferguson was full of praise for Colchester United manager Tim Sherwood, who has previously managed Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.

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Ryan Ferguson (Oxford City):

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"It is a very exciting draw for us. Colchester United are a good team in EFL League Two who play a very nice style of football. They are dangerous in attack as they look to play the ball around very quickly and have a devastating counter attack.

Their manager, Tim Sherwood, has managed at the highest level in this country. To be manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa is something to be very proud of and his background in football makes him a superb man for Colchester United. I look forward to playing against him at the end of the month.

It is nice to have the game televised. I think we have been quite exciting this season and it is nice to see the media believe we are a team the public want to see. We just have to give everybody a performance to remember now and hopefully we can continue our run in the competition beyond the Fourth Round."

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Wigan Athletic manager went on an incredible rant following a touchline ban being imposed on him by the FA's disciplinary board. The sixty-one year old manager will be suspended for six games following several incidents during his side's 1-2 defeat to Oxford City in an FA Cup Third Round clash at the DW Stadium on 4th January.

The FA disciplinary board took actions after Pulis punched Oxford City's manager Ryan Ferguson in the immediate aftermath of the game, with Ryan Ferguson not appearing to provoke the action in any way, before showing a complete and utter disregard for respect or sportsmanship in a disgusting rant in a post-match interview with reporters.

The Wigan Athletic manager will be suspended for upcoming EFL Championship games against Sunderland, QPR, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth and Reading. Wigan Athletic chairman Mick Reeves has openly admitted that the club will take disciplinary actions of their own on Tony Pulis, on players who acted poorly during the fixture and on any fans who are found guilty of throwing objects onto the field during the game.

Tony Pulis has been in defiant mood, believing he was in the right to assault Oxford City manager Ryan Ferguson. Pulis defended himself by slamming Ryan Ferguson's 'unorthodox' manner of winning the game. Ryan Ferguson's Oxford City dominated the game in terms of chances created, but scored twice from set-pieces to secure the victory.

Tony Pulis has vowed to exact his revenge on Ryan Ferguson and Oxford City in the future and has slammed Oxford City for believing they have a chance of rising through the divisions, labeling them a 'small club with no chance of success'.

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Tony Pulis:

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"It is a f*cking disgrace that I have been suspended. Is a manager not allowed to show their emotions any more? Everything I did in that fixture was justified. I am not the villain here. Ryan Ferguson is. He prides himself in having his team work hard and attack with grace yet where did his two goals come from? Unorthodox set-pieces. F*cking disgusting, that's what it was. Win a game through proper goals, not through set-pieces. Absolute disgrace.

I did nothing wrong. I can't wait to manage against that pathetic little club again. I can't wait to put them in their place. It is a small club with no chance of success because it is managed by a deluded *ss-wipe who thinks he knows how to manage football. Well, I can't wait to welcome him to the real world when I ruin his f*cking club in the future. I'm coming for you you smug pr*ck."

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The incredible story of Oxford City in the FA Cup continued following an outstanding 4-1 thrashing of Colchester United in the Fourth Round at the Kassam Stadium. It was an incredible result for the home side as Ryan Longman, once again, starred in the FA Cup fixture.

Following Oxford City's remarkable controlled victory over Wigan Athletic in the Thrid Round, the Oxfordshire-based club were favourites for this game and certainly proved the bookies right to back them. Despite club captain Josh Ashby missing the game through a long-term injury, the home side were well and truly on top and took their chances well, scoring all four of their goals in a frantic first half.

Kabongo Tshimanga and Ryan Longman were causing absolute havoc in attack for Oxford City, and they combined for the opener just two and a half minutes into the game. Tshimanga charged down the left wing and crossed low for Ryan Longman at the front post who looped his shot beyond the outstretched Dillon Barnes in Colchester United's goal.

The goal post came to Oxford City's rescue minutes later as Colchester United looked to bounce back immediately. Brandon Comley had space outside the area but saw his low effort smash off the outside of the post and away from danger. It was a warning sign from Colchester United but nothing more.

Ryan Longman and Kabongo Tshimanga combined once more, in a truly remarkable way. Oxford City kept possession deep within their own half before handing the ball to Ryan Longman on the left. The teenage attacker saw Tshimanga make a run beyond the Colchester defence and played a delightful long ball into his path. Kabongo took the ball down with aplomb before firing an absolute pile driver into the top left corner to double Oxford City's lead.

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Oxford City grabbed their third goal with give minutes to go in the first half, with another remarkable finish. Luke Ruddick and Ben Jefford looked to create chances with crosses, with the latter seeing his cross cleared as far Nathan Ferguson who controlled the ball on the edge of the area before slamming a half-volley in off the crossbar. Oxford City were beginning to move out of sight.

Ryan Longman was the star of the show and he grabbed his second of the game with just minutes remaining in the first half. Longman pressured Colchester's goalkeeper into a rushed clearance. Nathan Ferguson picked up the pieces, heading the ball into Longman's path inside the area, and Longman ensured a goal with a calm finish into the far bottom corner. Oxford City were 4-0 up going into half time.

Oxford City manager has emphasised the need for better game management from his side throughout the season, and he looked to shut down Colchester United throughout the second half, looking to save the legs of his players in the process. He successfully restricted Colchester United to just slim chances in the second half as the home side looked to stroll into the Fifth Round of the competition.

Colchester United got one goal back late on as Oxford City's Tom Bamford lost possession of the ball on the edge of his own area to Rodel Richards. Richards kept his composure to finish beyond the excellent Ryan Dickerson to deny Oxford City a clean sheet, but it would only prove to be a consolation goal.

Oxford City will find out who they will face in the FA Cup Fifth Round tomorrow, with many high profile Premier League teams remaining. City cannot afford to celebrate too much after today with crunch games against Macclesfield Town and Darlington in the league coming in the next nine days.

Colchester United face Arsenal U23s in the Quarter Finals of the League Trophy South on Wednesday before travelling to Wycombe Wanderers in the league next Saturday. Two must-win games to respond to their heavy defeat today.