This is a preview I originally wrote for www.rageonline.co.uk. Any amendments and corrections will be in italics.
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Just got back from ‘Nam.
“Vietnam?, no Cheltenham” as Ted Chippington might say.
On Saturday Oxford United face their first visit in five seasons from Cheltenham Town. The game from February 2006 ended up 1-1 in front of 5,232, with Oxford United going down 1-0 to a Steve Guinan goal, before Steve Basham levelled for United from the penalty spot on 76 minutes. The Robins match report suggested for the Us that ‘any fears of dropping further down the table are unfounded.’ That was the fifth time the Us faced the Robins that season, drawing away in the FA Cup and losing the replay at home, winning away in the league, and losing away in the LDV Vans trophy. In the away fixture in the current season on a Tuesday night at the end of September 2010, the match finished 1-1, with Jack Midson equalising on the hour mark.
After the disappointment of the defeat at Northampton, in midweek the Us tied up a decent 3-1 win against Shrewsbury, with a first ever United goal from Asa Hall, letting the Shrews get back level for half time, before a second half with two goals from James Constable gave the Us the bragging rights. Subsequently 22 year old left footed winger Jennison Myrie-Williams has signed for the Us, previously spending six months on loan at St Johnstone. There are no known injuries, and with Alfie Potter making an appearance back from injury on Tuesday as a late substitute, the side is unlikely to see any significant changes to the starting line-up.
The Robins come into this fixture with two wins, one draw and two losses in 2011. They lost to Wycombe Wanderers (currently 2nd), Accrington Stanley (15th) and Lincoln City (22nd); drew away at Northampton (16th) ; and beat Southend (13th) and Port Vale (5th).
United start the game in seventh place on 38 points, one point ahead of Cheltenham in 10th, who have also played 26 games.
Four of Cheltenhams’s last six games finished up 2-1, so we predict that there will be at least three goals in this match, and as apparently the Yellows have the current longest run without a draw in the country, the regained confidence of the Us should result in a home victory. Danger man for the Robins is 24 year old 5’11” striker Wesley Thomas who has 12 goals so far this campaign. 27 year old Jeff Goulding has scored nine in the league, and at 6’2” we can expect him to bundle a goal from a corner on Saturday.
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