A full guide to Saturday's big game
A full preview as United welcome Rochdale to the Kassam Stadium in SkyBet League 2
TEAM NEWS
Top-scorer Deane Smalley is hoping to be fit for the visit of Rochdale after missing last weekend’s clash with Wycombe as a precaution. The striker had felt a tightening in his hamstring during training last week but is hoping to be fit this weekend. He could be joined up front by strike partner Dave Kitson, who was a second-half substitute last weekend after missing out at Torquay the previous Saturday and has been back in training this week.
Sean Rigg (hamstring) and Jon Meades (ankle) are United’s only confirmed absentees, with both still recovering from injuries sustained in previous weeks.
See an 8 minute interview with Chris in Yellow Player where we also have a 16 minute Preview Show
IN OPPOSITION
Manager Keith Hill will be looking for a reaction from his side after their 1-0 defeat at Plymouth last week
“We conceded a very soft penalty" he said. "We’ve been working on our strategies all week and when you go 1-0 down to what will be a very good home side, it’s very difficult. I was relatively pleased with the second half, but there’s no solace in losing that game. We squandered opportunity after opportunity and we were snatching.
“Performances have got to reflect results and the team display and performance was more than acceptable, but the result is not and we’ve got to improve on that, especially away from home. We’ve scored five goals at home and no goals away from home, but we’re creating chances and we’ve got to make sure that we put them away to ease the pressure on the goalkeepers and the defenders.”
TICKET NEWS
Tickets are available 24/7 online from oufctickets.co.uk, over the phone on 01865 337533 for matchday collection, or you can stop by the ticket office in person. Tickets will be available on the day but supporters are advised to buy in advance to save time and money.
TRAVEL
The OX3 and OX7 bus services will be running again before and after the match, as for every home game this season. You can find more information HERE.
MATCH PROGRAMME
Don’t forget to pick up your copy of this week’s Matchday Magazine, packed full of unmissable content including the Big Interview with Deane Smalley and the story of how Danny Rose came to Oxford, as well as the views of manager Chris Wilder, captain Jake Wright and chairman Ian Lenagan. Scott Davies and Johnny Mullins give their views on some of today’s topical footballing issues in On the Spot, while Asa Hall is in the Football Manager hot-seat.
The magazine costs just £3 and is available from sellers around the ground (including a copy of Saturday's Oxford Mail, while stocks last) or you can visit our website at www.matchdayfix.co.uk and download it there. Subscribe and it will be available from 9 o'clock on Saturday morning, or buy the Rochdale download from 1pm on Saturday.
12TH MAN BAR
Manor legend Paul Moody will be in the 12th Man supporters’ bar ahead of the match to meet and greet fans and take part in a Q&A. He will be answering fans’ questions from 1:30pm as he looks back on a successful career which included 74 goals in 148 appearances for the U’s, winning promotion in 1996.
As usual, former heroes Jeremy Charles, Les Phillips and Peter Rhoades-Brown will be welcoming supporters to the bar, which is free for all season ticket holders. Entry is just £1 for non-season ticket holders, which goes directly to the 12th Man Fund.
MATCH SPONSORS
Match Sponsors for this game are Stephen Kane, Chartered Surveyor. Call 020 72240101 for further information
FANCY A FLUTTER?
United are currently evens to win with league sponsor Sky Bet, while a draw is 12/5. Johnny Mullins, who has scored in the last two games at the Kassam Stadium, is also 25/1 to be first/last goalscorer. Sky Bet have 53 different markets to bet on for this match, just click HERE for all the best odds.
Oxford fans who sign up now can get a FREE £10 bet with no deposit required, plus if you join the £5 Free Bet Club you could get a FREE £5 BET every week! Place a £5 accumulator on any sport with combined odds of 5/1 or more before midnight Sunday. Your £5 free bet will then be credited by 7pm Monday for you to use on any sport. Every account opened and every bet placed helps the club so add a little spice to the game with a small wager HERE.
COVERAGE
If you can't get to the Stadium then try out Yellow Player, where we have commentary of the whole game live, plus video interviews with all the key men and match highlights for you to see.
Yellow Player is the ONLY place on the internet that you can hear the game online.
THIS SITE
www.oufc.co.uk is the perfect place to follow all the action. The official website will have:
- Full team news
- Read a full match report the very second the final whistle blows
- See a full gallery of all the key moments
- See the manager and key players give their reactions in Yellow Player
- SMS subscribers get all the action straight to their mobiles.
Or follow @OUFClive on Twitter for all the action wherever you are.
FIFTY/50
Make sure you buy a Fifty-50 lottery ticket to be in with a chance of winning a big cash prize. Tickets are on sale all around the ground including from the concourse programme sellers, with the draw at half-time.
The result will appear right here as soon as it is made.