We look ahead to Saturday's big game at the Kassam Stadium
• U's look to bounce back• Trio hoping for home debuts
• Murray Hoping for Happy Return
• Read all about it in the matchday magazine
TEAM NEWS
New boys George Baldock, Giorgio Rasulo, Kemar Roofe and Jeremy Balmy will all be hoping to be involved at the Kassam Stadium for the first time as the U's welcome the Stags. Midfielder Rasulo joined on loan from MK Dons yesterday and will hope to be involved for the first time as the U's bounce back from defeats at Accrington and Burton.
Jamie Ashdown is likely to be on the bench where he could be joined by fit again Will Hoskins.
“We have the opportunity against the sides around us in the table and I think that’s going to be important" head coach Michael Appleton said. "Mansfield will be fired up and a crucial win against Luton will have given them a lift so we have to be aware of that. But in this part of the season the focus has to be on what we have to do, not the opposition. There is a real focus among this group of players this week. We sat down on Monday and talked about what we need to do going forwards and I think we have done that very positively this week.
“I think there have been crucial periods through the season where the players have had to stand up and be counted, and they know they are going to have to do that again on Saturday and for the next fifteen games.”
See the full interview with Michael in Yellow Player, where we also have a great Preview Show featuring Jake Wright and Giorgio Rasulo..
OLLY'S DEN
Fans in the Family Area can join us in Olly's Den once again (weather permitting). This brand new area, now astroturfed, features table tennis, shooting tests, player visits and giant games and is free to enter. Meet Olly and Olivia the Ox and enjoy the build up to kick-off in Olly's Den.
GETTING HERE
The Football Special buses are running as usual and offer cheap and easy transport to all league games. Click HERE for timetables and routes.
BIG WALK 2
You can buy the matchday magazine for just £3 (with a copy of the day's Oxford Mail while stocks last) from sellers around the ground before the game, or download a copy from www.matchdayfix.com/oufc from 1pm on the day of the match (9am for subscribers).
FIFTY/50
Be sure to pick up a Fifty/50 half time draw ticket from one of our sellers around the ground. The first prize is regularly £1,000 plus so you don’t want to miss out on what could be £1 very well spent!
ALL THE ODDS
If you fancy a flutter on Saturday’s game then SKY BET is the place to visit.
Every bet you place benefits the U's and with great odds on every game why go anywhere else?
For the full range of odds available on the match click HERE.
COVERAGE
If you can’t be with us then live full match commentary is available in Yellow Player. Yellow Player is the ONLY place on the internet where you can listen to the game live, and there will also be video interviews with all the key men, plus extended highlights.
THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.oufc.co.uk is the perfect place to follow all the action. The official website will have:
- An exciting match console
- A full match report the minute the final whistle is blown
- A full photo gallery of all the key moments
- The manager and key players' reactions in Yellow Player
- SMS subscribers will receive all the action straight to their mobiles.
Or follow @OUFCOfficial on Twitter for regular updates and all the action on Saturday.
USEFUL LINKS
THE OPPOSITION
There is a familiar face in the Mansfield dug out with former United skipper Adam Murray now in charge of the Stags. Murray, who is likely to include at least two other former United players in Simon Heslop and Junior Brown is hoping that the win over Luton on Tuesday which saw his side leapfrog United, signals a change of luck for his side.
“I don’t want to tempt fate but you look at some of the little things that happened on Tuesday and you wonder if Lady Luck has finally stepped into our dressing room?" he said. “It would be nice if she has. I think the work we’ve been doing has been right and our work rate has been huge. So it would be nice to start getting that bit of luck you need.”
“Oxford are going through a lot of changes, “ he said. “They have brought in a lot of players and continue to do so and have adopted a new style of play since the new manager has been in. They are still finding their feet like we are. But they are a huge club with huge backing and I am sure they will eventually get it right.
“I had some good times there. We got promotion and I captained them for a few years. There are some really good people down there.This is a huge club for where it’s at and they expect success down there. There is a lot of pressure to get success and the fans deserve it.
“But we are going there to win with a lot of confidence. We have been performing well over a number of weeks but not getting the results we should have. I feel Tuesday will kick us on and we can go there and put on a performance and a get a result.”
Tickets are always cheaper in advance: call 01865 337533 to book your seat or book your place at www.oufctickets.co.uk.
There is a familiar face in the Mansfield dug out with former United skipper Adam Murray now in charge of the Stags. Murray, who is likely to include at least two other former United players in Simon Heslop and Junior Brown is hoping that the win over Luton on Tuesday which saw his side leapfrog United, signals a change of luck for his side.
“I don’t want to tempt fate but you look at some of the little things that happened on Tuesday and you wonder if Lady Luck has finally stepped into our dressing room?" he said. “It would be nice if she has. I think the work we’ve been doing has been right and our work rate has been huge. So it would be nice to start getting that bit of luck you need.”
“Oxford are going through a lot of changes, “ he said. “They have brought in a lot of players and continue to do so and have adopted a new style of play since the new manager has been in. They are still finding their feet like we are. But they are a huge club with huge backing and I am sure they will eventually get it right.
“I had some good times there. We got promotion and I captained them for a few years. There are some really good people down there.This is a huge club for where it’s at and they expect success down there. There is a lot of pressure to get success and the fans deserve it.
“But we are going there to win with a lot of confidence. We have been performing well over a number of weeks but not getting the results we should have. I feel Tuesday will kick us on and we can go there and put on a performance and a get a result.”
TICKETS
OLLY'S DEN
Fans in the Family Area can join us in Olly's Den once again (weather permitting). This brand new area, now astroturfed, features table tennis, shooting tests, player visits and giant games and is free to enter. Meet Olly and Olivia the Ox and enjoy the build up to kick-off in Olly's Den.
GETTING HERE
The Football Special buses are running as usual and offer cheap and easy transport to all league games. Click HERE for timetables and routes.
BIG WALK 2
United fans will be putting their best foot forward as they walk in to the game from across Oxfordshire. Fans will walk the 12th miles from Woodstock, Cholsey, Eynsham and Thame.
Proceeds from the ‘Big Walk 2′ will be split between the Oxford United Youth and Community Sports Trust and Oxford Domestic Abuse Services.
More than 30 people, including Milk Cup star Les Phillips plus the Oxford United Women team have signed up to take part in what the Yellow Army hopes will be the most successful walk to date.
Please email yellowarmybigwalk2@gmail.com to register your interest in taking part in this wonderful community event or if you would like to make a donation HERE
MATCHDAY MAGAZINE
Proceeds from the ‘Big Walk 2′ will be split between the Oxford United Youth and Community Sports Trust and Oxford Domestic Abuse Services.
More than 30 people, including Milk Cup star Les Phillips plus the Oxford United Women team have signed up to take part in what the Yellow Army hopes will be the most successful walk to date.
Please email yellowarmybigwalk2@gmail.com to register your interest in taking part in this wonderful community event or if you would like to make a donation HERE
MATCHDAY MAGAZINE
Our award-winning match magazine is packed full with news views and interviews - Andy Whing, Alex Macdonald, George Baldock and Jeremy Balmy are all interviewed plus we have the thoughts and views from all areas of the club.
You can buy the matchday magazine for just £3 (with a copy of the day's Oxford Mail while stocks last) from sellers around the ground before the game, or download a copy from www.matchdayfix.com/oufc from 1pm on the day of the match (9am for subscribers).
FIFTY/50
Be sure to pick up a Fifty/50 half time draw ticket from one of our sellers around the ground. The first prize is regularly £1,000 plus so you don’t want to miss out on what could be £1 very well spent!
ALL THE ODDS
If you fancy a flutter on Saturday’s game then SKY BET is the place to visit.
Every bet you place benefits the U's and with great odds on every game why go anywhere else?
For the full range of odds available on the match click HERE.
COVERAGE
If you can’t be with us then live full match commentary is available in Yellow Player. Yellow Player is the ONLY place on the internet where you can listen to the game live, and there will also be video interviews with all the key men, plus extended highlights.
THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.oufc.co.uk is the perfect place to follow all the action. The official website will have:
- An exciting match console
- A full match report the minute the final whistle is blown
- A full photo gallery of all the key moments
- The manager and key players' reactions in Yellow Player
- SMS subscribers will receive all the action straight to their mobiles.
Or follow @OUFCOfficial on Twitter for regular updates and all the action on Saturday.
USEFUL LINKS
- Book your seat
- Hear the whole game live in Yellow Player
- Have a bet on the game
- Download the magazine