PREVIEW: Oxford United vs Swansea City

Oxford United welcome Swansea City to the Kassam Stadium this Saturday (12.30pm kick off) for the first of three games in six days.

This is the home Saturday game that falls closest to Remembrance Day and so there will be a special ceremony before the game, including the laying of wreaths and a minute's silence to honour the fallen.

OXFORD UNITED

The U's go into the game on the back of last Saturday's defeat at league leaders Sunderland but they are unbeaten at home this season and have lost just two of their last nine games.

United have already stated that none of the current crop of injured players will be back in action before the upcoming international break, but after making their first appearances of the season at the Stadium of Light, both Hidde ter Avest and Will Goodwin will be hoping to be involved again against the Swans.

Ahead of the game, head coach Des Buckingham told us: "It's been a good week. The players have trained extremely well and they're in a good place, and we're very much looking forward to another sell-out crowd at the Kassam.

"Swansea, we know, are a possession-based team and they'll want to have a lot of the ball. We're at home and we've enjoyed our home games so far. We've picked up some really good results and had some really good performances, and as long as we continue that - and I'm sure that we will - and as long as the fans get behind us in the way that they have, both home and away, so far, we'll do as much as we can to put on a good performance and take a result."

SWANSEA CITY

Swansea come into the game without a win in their last six appearances and without a goal in their last five. 

Defender Kristian Pedersen is back in contention having completed his recovery from a hamstring injury although Sam Parker, Andy Fisher and Jisung Eom are still unavailable.

Swans head coach Luke Williams told Swans TV: "[Oxford United] have done brilliantly. I was there for the play-off semi-final against Peterborough and I could see that they're a well-organised team and they have some real quality. I know there are some very high quality players in the squad, so it's going to be tough.

"I think it's a very well-run club, a very ambitious club, and they're trying to go about their business in a very organised way. When they set their sights they're very aggressive to go and get the players they think they can achieve. They're a good example of a club being well run and coping with the step up in level very well."

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Saturday is the Club's dedicated Remembrance Day fixture. During the pre-match ceremony, an Oxford United and Swansea City supporter with a Military background will lay a wreath on the pitch, along with CEO Tim Williams and Swansea City Chairman, Andy Coleman. 

Keiran Lucey is a Season Ticket Holder who grew up in Carterton. His father was RAF and he was surrounded by military from RAF Brize Norton. In February 1990 at 17, Keiran left Carterton and joined the RAF. He served in various Air Transport organisations as a Movements Tradesman in many areas of the country, including two years in Northern Ireland (Pre-ceasefire) and three years in Wiltshire! He also spent a lot of time overseas - USA, Belize, Ascension Island, Germany, Falkland Islands, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq (Gulf War II) & 2 tours of Afghanistan. 

During his service, Keiran was not around Oxfordshire enough to justify having a season ticket. He is happy to say that at the grand age of 51, his life is a little more settled so he is finally enjoying his first season ticket in what has been a great season so far.

Swansea City’s supporter is Veteran Sgt Rachel McDonald who served 11 years in the RAF.  Rachel was a qualified Paramedic, based at a number of stations throughout the UK, and was deployed on a variety of overseas operations and exercises. Rachel worked frontline on the Chinook helicopters as part of the Medical Emergency Response Team on several tours. Overseas operations include Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan at times of extreme danger. 

Rachel was awarded the prestigious Paramedic of the Year in 2007 award by the Ambulance Service after leading her team through enemy fire to save 24 wounded soldiers on the frontline in Afghanistan.

TICKETS & TRAVEL

At the time of writing, there is an extremely limited number of tickets remaining. If you want to get to the game, be quick as it will sell out imminently. Tickets can be bought online HERE, or from the ticket office in person and by telephone (01865 337533).

There is a 2,000-place free car park at the Kassam Stadium but this does tend to fill up quickly, so to make sure of a place please try to get there as early as possible. There is also parking in marked bays along Grenoble Road east of the Kassam Stadium. Please do not park on the verges or in the controlled parking zones as you will get a parking ticket.

The Res Gate behind the North Stand will be closed both before and after the game, so pedestrians will be unable to get from one end of the stadium to the other around the back of the stand.

Remember the football special bus services should you be travelling to the game from further afield in the county. Please check our matchday travel guide for all the travel information you need.

For everything else, refer to our Matchday Guide 2024/25.

PROGRAMME

Our usual match programme will be on sale at the stadium. Read all about it HERE.

UNDER 18S

Oxford United's youth team is at home to Forest Green Rovers in the Youth Alliance Cup. Read the preview HERE.

OXFORD UNITED WOMEN

Our women's side is also in cup action, taking on Actonians at home in the Adobe Women's FA Cup on Sunday (kick off 1:00pm). Read the preview HERE.