As the U's prepare to take on Aston Villa on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup, there will be a couple of changes in the rules for this season's competition.
PENALTY KICKS
This season will see the introduction of a new format for penalty shoot outs, as the EFL trial a new way of these taking place.
The trial is in light of research which suggested that the player taking the second kick is under greater mental pressure in the current format.
Therefore, a different order of kickers is being trialled in an experiment to reduce any apparent advantage the team taking the first kick may have.
In simple terms, the team taking the first kick in each ‘pair’ of kicks will alternate as follows.
1st kick – Team A
2nd kick – Team B
3rd kick – Team B
4th kick – Team A
5th kick – Team A
6th kick – Team B
7th kick – Team B
8th kick – Team A
9th kick - Team A
10th kick - Team B
...until such time that a winner has been found.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Both teams will be able to make three substitutions within the ninety minutes but, should the game go to extra time, then both sides will be able to make a fourth change should they so wish.