This is a preview I originally wrote for www.rageonline.co.uk. Any amendments and corrections will be in italics.
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Will it be six points at Sixfields?
On Saturday Oxford United face their first visit in five seasons to Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium, with the chance to achieve their first league double of the season, with the Us taking up their full allocation of 1,600 away tickets. Last time we visited was on a Friday evening in October 2005, losing 1-0 to a Scott McGleish goal. That season saw Northampton promoted as runners up to League 1, helping to send the Yellows down to the Conference with a 3-1 home defeat in the third last game of the season. The Cobblers had two seasons of mid table mediocrity in League 1, before being relegated in the last match of 2008/9 by one point, losing 3-0 in front of 34,000 at Leeds United. In 2009/10, the Cobblers finished 11th in League 2. Sixfields is an out of town stadium incorporated into a leisure park of cinema and restaurants, completed in 1994. There is plentiful car parking, however it can take a while to exit after the game, and so some fans choose to leave early and watch the last few minutes from a hill in the car park, with a restricted view of little more than half the pitch.
Last week, United had what was many described as a performance of the season, winning 2-1 against a defensive Bradford City. Although the two goals scored by Steve Maclean and Tom Craddock were scrappy, the Yellows dominated the game, reminiscent of the start of the season Carling Cup 6-1 victory against Bristol Rovers. Oxford now have six wins from seven, all by a one goal margin: five being 2-1, and the Torquay United game 4-3. In three of the wins the Us were behind at half-time, so fans of both sides should be prepared for a rollercoaster afternoon.
Against Bradford City, manager Chris Wilder named an unchanged starting line-up, {possibly for the first time} and with MacLean finally signing this week on loan from Plymouth until the end of the season, there are unlikely to be many changes. Anthony Tonkin has a black eye from a challenge last week, but that is unlikely to rule him out of the squad. Matt Green and Jack Midson both started in the midweek friendly against Thame United, and with Sam Deering also back from loan at Newport County, there are plenty of options available on the bench.
Northampton started 2011 with losses against Crewe and Gillingham, a draw against Cheltenham, and a win against Lincoln, which perhaps reflects each team’s league position, the Cobblers currently in 17th place on 28 points, seven points behind United who start the afternoon ninth in the league. Northampton have though been active in the January transfer window. A much rumoured move for Calvin Zola of Crewe didn’t happen with Zola choosing to join Paul Peschisolido’s Burton Albion. This then paved the way for striker Shaun Harrad to move from Burton to the Cobblers on a two and a half year contract. Harrad has faced the Us twice already this season in league and cup, but he has not yet found the net against them. Other danger men for Northampton are ex-Leicester City striker Billy McKay who has seven goals this season, Kevin Thornton, and much travelled 32 year-old Leon McKenzie who both have six each.
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