We look ahead to Sunday's big game
• Sunday Service for the U's
• O'Dowda misses out, Buchel on bench
• Rover boss looking for consistency
• Full ticket and travel details
TEAM NEWS
Oxford United look to take their unbeaten league run into the second month of the season as they travel to Bristol Rovers on Sunday. The U's are fifth in the pre-weekend table and Rovers are seventh, equal on nine points.
United welcome new signing Benjamin Buchel into the squad for the first time. The Liechtenstein goalkeeper passed his medical on Friday morning and completed a deal that will see him at the U's for the rest of the season. With Max Crocombe away with the New Zealand squad, Buchel will step up to the bench and act as cover for Sam Slocombe.
The Yellows are also without Callum O'Dowda, who is playing tonight for the Republic of Ireland under-21 side against Qatar at Bury (6pm) and will stay with the squad to face Andorra in a European Championship qualifying game on Tuesday.
Boss Michael Appleton has several options in O'Dowda's absence against the Pirates, with Kemar Roofe and Danny Hylton both able to play out wide and Ryan Taylor and Patrick Hoban both doing well in a friendly against Aston Villa in midweek.
Skipper Jake Wright stands by for a landmark 250th start for the U's.
See Michael Appleton, Benji Buchel, George Baldock, Kemar Roofe and a full Preview Show in Yellow Player HD, where we also have the whole game LIVE.
THE OPPOSITION
Rovers have done well since they won promotion back into the League at the first attempt, with wins over Yeovil, Luton and Barnet setting them up for a place in the early play-off positions. There are four former U's players now with the Gas: midfielder Lee Mansell, defender James Clarke and forwards Matty Taylor and James Clarke.
Manager Darrell Clarke is looking for his side to build on what they have achieved so far:
"Michael Appleton has been quoted as saying he is building a squad that should be capable of competing at League One standard, so that goes to show you how high Oxford are aiming," Clarke told the Bristol Post.
“I have been relatively pleased with how we have started and it would be great if we could be in or around the top seven with a decent points tally by the end of September. Some of the performances have been very good so far this season, and that means that the players have really set the standard for themselves.
“They have shown me in a lot of the games that they are capable of reaching the standards I have set for them, but the real trick is to be able to do that on a consistent basis.
TICKETS
Sky Bet League 2
Sunday, 6th September 2015
12.15pm
Memorial Stadium, Bristol BS7 0BF
Supporters are reminded that this game is ALL TICKET and no tickets will be available on the day of the game. Tickets must be bought from the Oxford United Ticket office before 3pm on Friday.
Prices are as follows:
Seating:
Adults: £23
16-12: £19
65+/under 16: £14
Terrace:
Adults: £20
16-21: £16
65+/under 16: £12.
Tickets for wheelchair users are priced at adults/seniors: £13, under-16: £13 and carer is free of charge. Contact the Bristol Rovers ticket office directly for a wheelchair space on 0117 952 4001. Ambulant disabled tickets are the same price as for wheelchair users.
London Road Travel Club
Depart from Kassam Stadium: 9am
Adult members: £13
Adult non-members: £15
Under-18 members: £11
Under-18 non-members: £13
Tickets are available from the Oxford United ticket office either in person or on 01865 337533 or 24/7 on www.oufctickets.co.uk until 3.00pm on Friday 4th September.
ALL THE ODDS
If you fancy a flutter then do it with Sky Bet. Every account opened earns United money; every bet placed earns them a little more.
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 HD. 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.
Or follow @OUFCOfficial on Twitter for regular updates and all the action.