Paolo Di Canio's thoughts ahead of the derby game

Swindon Town manager : Paolo Di Canio
Since yesterday morning I woke up thinking about Oxford and I felt straight away the butterflies in my stomach.

I think this rivalry is bigger than Lazio and Roma. In Rome the rivalry is big but they play twice a year. Here, they don't play often, so the rivalry has grown.

It's the most important derby of my career.

This is absolutely a very special game and for us it should be a World Cup final.

"He's [Oxford United Striker, No. 9 James Constable] a big Swindon fan through and through - the Oxford fans know it.

If my players put in even 10 per cent of the fans’ desire for this game, they will be okay, with 100 per cent we will win easy but even if they bring with them 10 per cent of the fans’ desire to give their best then I will be very happy because then we are in a right way.

The 11 who will start on Sunday must be an 11 who can play football but also give their heart. I don’t mean that a good technical player will not play but they have to show that even if they are not proper nasty people, that is what they have to become in a positive and professional way.”


Oxford United Manager : Chris Wilder
We will keep our heads down and let them get on with it. You don’t win anything with articles or quotes in the paper, but every manager has their own approach.  But it’s not about me, it’s about my players and it’s about the supporters getting behind us like they always do. 

My Tottenham-supporting number nine will be all out to get the goals for Oxford on Sunday.

Kassam attendance records - the highest

In order, 

12,243: 06 May 2006 - vs Leyton Orient FL2.   away 4,603 = home 7,640

The day we were relegated from the football league.  Orient were given the whole of the North Stand some weeks before when Oxford were seemingly safe. An early goal for United from Eric Sabin was equalised by Craig Easton.  Gary Alexander put Orient 2-1 ahead, before Chris Willmott levelled the score.  Late on, ex United player Lee Steele scored a third to win promotion for Orient, and relegation for United along with Rushden & Diamonds.  United finished with 49 points, Bury, Torquay, Notts County and Stockport were all on 52 points, and a victory for United would have seen them safe. 

12,177: 06 Nov 2002 - vs Aston Villa LCP.  away ???
 
11,963: 03 May 2010 - vs Rushden & Diamonds BSP POS2. away 1,109 = home 10,854

This has the record for the highest number of home fans = 10,854.  The match was the Conference play-off semi-final 2nd leg.  We had drawn the first leg away, but won the second leg, and went on to win the Wembley Play-off 3-1 against York and return to the football league.

11,825: 03 Mar 2012 - vs S***don Town FL2.  away 1,266 = home 10,559
The home tickets had sold out back in November, and the S***don tickets went on sale on the coldest night of the year.  United were down to 10 men early on after James Constable was sent off for an elbow on 10 minutes, but two quick goals from Asa Hall and Oli Johnson put the Yellows 2-0 up after 16 minutes.  With two banks of four, and Scott Rendell up front on his own, United defended resolutely on to claim victory, doing the double over S***don Town, and ending their 10 match winning streak.  

11,673 10 Jan 2016 - vs Swansea City, FAC 3rd round.  away 1,429 = home 10,244
United won 3-2 after going one nil down early on to Jefferson Montero, before a Liam Sercombe penalty on half time drew us level, and two second half goals from Kemar Roofe took us 3-1 up, before Swansea pulled one back to leave a nervy last 25 minutes.

11,647 30 Jan 2016 - vs Blackburn Rovers, FAC 4th round.  away 1,485 = home 10,162
United won 3-2 after going one nil down early on to Jefferson Montero, before a Liam Sercombe penalty on half time drew us level, and two second half goals from Kemar Roofe took us 3-1 up, before Swansea pulled one back to leave a nervy last 25 minutes.

11,645: 08 Dec 2002 - vs S***don Town FAC. away ???

11,121: 26 Dec 2001 - vs Luton Town FL2. away 2,646 = home 8,475

11,065: 26 Dec 2006 - vs Woking BSP. away 306 = home 10,759

10,691: 08 May 2007 - vs Exeter City BSP POS2. away 1,000 (Exeter's estimate) = home Est 9,691 
This was the second leg of the Conference play-off semi-finals.  United had won the first leg 1-0, and were 1-0 up after 27 minutes in the second leg, before Exeter drew one back before half time.  Rob Duffy missed a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Exeter took the scores level over the fixture, and the game went to extra time and penalties.  The match report says differently, but I think we hit the post on three of our spot kicks, and we were left to rot with another three years in the Conference.  Exeter went on to win the play-offs, and indeed were also promoted to League One whilst United remained in the BSP.

10,613: 08 Sep 2009 - vs Luton Town BSP. away 2,331 = home 8,282
Luton Town had been relegated three years in succession, and were now in their first year in the Conference, having had 30 points deducted the season before.  Oxford were no longer the only 'big' team in non-league.  Shortly into the season, Luton were the visitors on a Tuesday night to the Kassam stadium, apparently with many of their supporters unable to get into the match.  Early on, United won a penalty, but it was parried away, however the ball was soon back in the Luton area for James Constable to knock in.  

Jamie Cook, resigned by United the week before, scored a cracker, but this was the highlight of his season.    

10,298: 26 Apr 2009 - vs Northwich Victoria BSP. away 119 = home 10,179
The last game of the season, and Oxford were hoping for a miracle to reach the BSP play-offs, having had a five point deduction earlier in the season.  United needed a win and for other results to go in their favour.  However, the game was lost 2-1, with a pitch invasion marring the game.  Visiting goalkeeper Ryan Clarke gave a thumbs up to the home crowd at the end of the game, and would soon be signing as United's first choice goalkeeper.    

10,049 26 December 2013 - vs Plymouth Argyle.  FL2.  away 699 = home 9,350
Promoted by the club as "The Big Match", it ended up as a big disappointment.  After an even but uneventful scoreless first half, the Us conceded within 45 seconds of the restart, with a shot that Ryan Clarke watched shoot into the far corner to his left.  Asa Hall briefly put us level with a long range shot into the goal in front of the Oxford Mail stand.  Another defensive mix-up saw us 2-1 down, and once Dave Kitson gave away a penalty and it was 3-1 it was very much game over.  A late own goal on 88 minutes gave United a spectre of hope, but there was not enought time to force the equaliser. 

10,138:  2 Feb 2016 vs Millwall, LCP area final 2nd leg.

9,559 16 Feb 2016 vs Northampton.  L2.   away 1943 = home7616

9,870: 24 Sep 2003 - vs Reading LCP.  away ???

9,683 26 Dec 2015 vs Exeter.  away 547 = home 9,136

9,477: 26 Dec 2003 - vs Leyton Orient FL2. away 635 = home 8,842

9,440: 28 Dec 2010 - vs Macclesfield Town FL2. away 86 = home 9,354

Promoted by Bridle Insurance.  

Highest number of home fans in a conference match (incc play-offs) = 10,854 vs Rushden 
Highest number of home fans in a conference match (excl play-offs) = 10,759 vs Woking, 26 Dec 2006
Highest number of home fans in a league match = 10,559 vs Swindon Town

Highest number of home fans in an FA Cup match = 10,244 vs Swansea

Highest number of home fans in a League Cup match = ???