Friday, 18 October 2013

PREVIEW: Accrington Away (19/10/13)

This weekend the league's best away side travel to the league's worst home side. While Oxford have dropped just two points on the road so far this season, Accrington are still waiting for their first win at the Crown Ground. We've all been here before, the script is written etc etc.

It's been a tough season for Stanley, currently five points adrift at the bottom of the league with just three points garnered from their first 11 games. However, there are signs that they are improving and they were only denied their first win of the season away at AFC Wimbledon last weekend by a late equaliser. Unfortunately for them, their goalscorer Kayode Odejayi was also sent off controversially in that game and will be banned for our visit. Manager James Beattie has said he may look to shake up his side in an attempt to reverse Accrington's fortunes, so who knows what to expect from the hosts this weekend.

Perhaps he's taking a leaf out of Chris Wilder's book after he experimented with the formation last week to reverse our recent slump in home form. But after impressing against Northampton last week it raises a question of whether to stick with that successful system or return to the plan which has so far served us so well on the road. There appear to be no fresh injury concerns to report, though Alfie Potter's hamstring problem picked up in the JPT against Portsmouth appears to be more complicated than first expected and he won't travel as a result.

Our record against Accrington is impressive. In eight previous encounters we've never been beaten and have won four of the last five (the sole draw in that run coming in the FA Cup as Michael Raynes scored in the last minute to snatch a replay at the death). If all goes according to form, all signs point towards an Oxford win. But then, it wouldn't be Oxford if it was easy...

Also This Weekend

Chris Allen's table-topping youth team travel to Bournemouth in the League Cup this weekend, fresh from an impressive 2-0 win at a strong Cheltenham side last time out. Can they make it five consecutive victories?

The women's development squad play their first home game of the season this weekend as they host Millwall Lionesses. They followed up their heavy defeat to Arsenal on the opening day with a narrow 2-1 loss to Yeovil in the cup last week and face a Millwall side who beat the Glovers 7-0 in their first game of the season. Let's hope they can pull one out of the bag this time around.

Don't forget you can find full fixture lists for women's, development and youth teams on our Fixtures page!


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