Boro centre back Carl Piergianni's fourth-minute header was enough to send Oxford crashing out of the cup in the First Round.

The U's made 10 changes from the midweek win over Reading, goalkeeper Simon Eastwood the only remaining name in the side.

15 of the 20-man squad on Saturday were aged 23 or under, with four academy graduates making their debut as Ramsey rested numerous senior players in the cup competition.

After playing in front of a much smaller crowd than usual at the Kassam Stadium, Ramsey explained his squad selection: "From the Reading game and the intensity and the knocks and things that we picked up from that game, we needed to rotate.

"The schedule has been really demanding lately as well.

"You have to use the squad, which I'm more than comfortable doing, which I've done in every game so far. Not just this game.

Harrison Bradney makes a challenge (Image: Darrell Fisher)

"I expect us to go out there and compete to win a football game. The full intention is just to win this game.

"It felt like the players that were there on the pitch, on the bench, are all ready to contribute to that.

"I think we look at the bigger picture as well.

"It was a really proud day that we had 14 players of the academy involved today."

There was obvious disappointment that the U's had bowed out of the world-famous FA Cup at the first time of asking, but Ramsey insisted that he still recognises the significance of cup competitions.

The former Arsenal midfielder continued: "We're all disappointed that we lost the game.

"We always want to go out and win a game of football, but this is a competition that I've personally had some success in.

"I know how much this competition means and the opportunities that you can have in here.

"We're disappointed, but, look, we're not going to... beat ourselves up too much.

"We've got plenty of games coming up now and we have to dust ourselves down and go again Tuesday because there's another competition that we want to advance in."

Senior pro Tyler Goodrham was one of the better performers in the Oxford side against Stevenage.

Oxford United midfielder Tyler Goodrham (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Goodrham was a last-minute addition to the starting XI, replacing Louie Sibley who missed out through illness, meaning there was one less experienced face on the bench.

Ramsey touched on Sibley's absence: "He felt a bit sick.

"So we had to make that decision and he couldn't have played today.

"Sib's in there [brings] that bit of steel that he can compete the second balls and what he brings to the attacking side of the game as well."

The Yellows look ahead to another home fixture on Tuesday night, hosting League Two side Cheltenham Town in the Jersey Mike's Trophy group stage.