Oxford are on the road
again this weekend and Kingsmeadow is the destination. After two
successive 0-0 draws against Accrington
and Exeter
if we want to keep in touch with the top three a result is a must
this weekend. Key to that, of course, will be our ability to score
goals. For most of the season it's not been scoring goals that has
been our problem but keeping them out. Prior to the last week we were
top scorers in the division but had kept just two clean sheets all
season. But in the last two games we've seen an unusual reversal of that record as
we've been able to keep them out at one end but been unable to find
the net at the other.
And that's a problem that
has been exacerbated by the absence of Alfie Potter and Deane
Smalley, both of whom are likely to miss out once again. Added to
that the suspension of Dave Kitson following his sending off on
Tuesday and our options up front are looking decidedly limited. It
leaves us with James Constable and Tyrone Marsh as our only fit an
available strikers while our only designated right winger, Ryan
Williams, is unable to play a full 90 minutes.
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| Picture by Jon Whiles Photography |
At the back, even despite
the continued absence of Johnny Mullins, we've been in impressive form. Michael Raynes has seized his opportunity to
come into the backline and we've looked far more solid as a result.
And with Wimbledon struggling for goals lately, expect that to
continue this weekend.
Wimbledon are having a
rough run of form lately. Having started the season incredibly
strongly, their form has since tailed off drastically and they're now
without a win in their last five games. Even so, they're predicting
on their official website that this match could see a record crowd at
Kingsmeadow, with our allocation already sold out. And with the
potential return of Andy Frampton and Charlie Sheringham to the Dons
team after lengthy absences due to injury, the Wimbledon side we come
up against this weekend could be a different proposition to the one
which has struggled in recent weeks.
But if our record against
Wimbledon since their reformation is anything to go by we needn't be
worried. Oxford have won all six of our previous meetings, including
an impressive 3-0 win on our last visit. In fact, we put six goals
past the Dons last season, having beaten
them 3-2 earlier that season at the Kassam, in what was a
difficult season for Wimbledon as they narrowly avoided relegation
back to the Conference. But that was then, this is now, and after
some surprising results throughout the league recently, this one
could go either way.
Also This Weekend
The youth team welcome
Cheltenham Town to Roman Way in League Cup action on Saturday just
two weeks after a 2-0 away win there to go top of the league table.
Unfortunately, the match is merely an academic exercise as last
weekend's 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth means that we will play no further
part in the competition beyond the group stages.
Don't forget you can find full fixture lists for women's, development and youth teams on our Fixtures page!
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