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League One club get response back after requesting to have fans at Wembley

A League One club have managed to get a response back after requesting to have their fans at Wembley ahead of the playoff final.

Oxford United managed to beat Portsmouth to set up the much anticipated clash against Wycombe Wanderers, who knocked out Fleetwood Town.

Though it’s been playoffs like no other with no fans allowed in at stadiums due to the government’s coronavirus guidelines.

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The coronavirus pandemic also meant players could travel to matches on the day, some already in their kits, teams could make five substitutions and there are a multitude of way to control hygiene and sanitisation as well as toned down celebrations and elbow bumps instead of handshakes.

For the League Two final between Exeter City and Northampton Town, supporters had to watch on in spirit from the comfort of their own homes as the game was televised on Sky Sports.

Most clubs chose to fill the empty stands with cardboard cut out of their supporters, past and present, as a way of fans being to have some connection to their side’s fanbase.

One League One club managed to get response back after requesting to have fans at Wembley, which has a capacity of over 90,000.

Oxford United have failed in an attempt to see if there was any way of their supporters even if it was just a few that could make it to next Monday’s playoff final.

There has been plenty of talk on whether the stadium could host a restricted capacity which would still maintain social distancing rules.

U’s managing director Niall McWilliams told the club’s website: “We felt it was our duty to ask one last time whether anything could be done or whether things might change between now and Monday.

“Fans had been sending us images showing crowds of people when pubs and shops re-opened and were asking why that couldn’t happen in a controlled way at Wembley?

“So we asked the question, politely and with total respect for the current rules, whether controlled numbers – season ticket holders from both clubs, for example – could be allowed inside the ground or whether guest lists might be slightly larger.

“We felt that we owed it to our fans to ask that question but sadly the answer came back as a no.

“We respect that decision and will obviously abide by it and we ask all of our fans to help us now by watching the game safely at home.

“We will be thinking of them and we would like nothing better than to share such a massive game with our supporters.

“We look forward to the day where we can be part of the matchday experience with them again, hopefully in the Championship”.

Simon Eastwood was the hero for Oxford, the keeper going the right way to deny Cameron McGeehan as the home side won 5-4 on penalties at the Kassam Stadium. Wycombe booked their place later on Monday evening, earning a 2-2 draw at home to Fleetwood to go through with a 6-3 aggregate win.

“I’m just full of admiration for the players,” said Robinson. “We’re in the final, what more can you say? When you think that I’ve had to sell my two best players in January and we came into this game with three or four struggling with injuries, it’s incredible.

“I had asked a few people in the game who have been in big penalty shootouts for their advice,” Robinson added. “I’m just gutted for our fans who couldn’t be here to celebrate it. But for Oxford United to be in the final is unbelievable.”

Speaking after Wycombe’s aggregate win over Fleetwood, Chairboys boss Gareth Ainsworth said: “I can’t thank the boys enough.

“You know, their efforts have just been phenomenal all week.

“All four weeks since we got back from lockdown and all they’ve been doing is focusing on being their best.

“And I ask them to be better than they were on Friday.

“It was a tough ask, but they’ve defended unbelievably against what I’ll say is possibly the best away football team we’ve have down here all season.

“I thought Fleetwood were great at keeping the ball.

“We don’t go toe-to-toe like that.

“We know we can’t.

“We know what we are.

“Once we sorted that out and we started dropping deep into our half and killing their space, we defended really, really well.

“It’s about those little battles, those headers, those moments in front of your own goal that you you’ll die for to defend.

“And I’ve got this pack that will die for each other out there.

“But I have to say that being in the play-off final four, the Championship is beyond all our wildest dreams here.

“And I’m just so proud of the boys and thankful for everyone who supported me and kept with me throughout because it’s been a tough ride sometimes.

“Who would have thought would be here, stood here after what we’ve been through in recent years.

“It’s just awesome.”

Fans have reacted after finding out what was the response that Oxford received, see what they tweeted…

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