Oxford United v Torquay United 25/01/2014 Match Thread
Posted: 24 Jan 2014, 21:18
Okay, here's an introduction, as brief as I can make it, to this weekend’s Oxford United v Torquay United League Two game. Chris Hargreaves, thanks to last week’s postponed Northampton game, now takes his Gulls team to the Kassam Stadium for what is only his second match, and also his second away game, as Torquay manager.
Oxford have been at the Kassam Stadium since 2001, having moved there from the Manor Ground, the re-development of which was considered to be too costly. Last season was blighted by injuries and patchy form: after opening the season with three wins and briefly heading the table, Oxford lost their next six games, a pattern of inconsistency that was to continue throughout the season. They finished outside the play-offs for the third consecutive season, but manager Chris Wilder was given a further one-year contract in April 2013.
Some Oxford fans were unhappy about the decision to renew Wilder's contract, having pressed for his sacking during the second half of the 2012–13 season. Some still feel that way now, though many clubs would probably be quite happy to have Wilder as their manager. It was recently reported that Northampton Town are interested in the Oxford boss becoming the Cobblers’ new manager, but Wilder is definitely in charge for the Oxford-Torquay game.
For those interested in meaningless statistics (meaningless because so far this season in League Two anybody has been capable of beating anybody on the day), Oxford’s form over their past six league games has been the same as Torquay’s: P6 W2 D2 L2. http://weekendfootball.co.uk/analysis/f ... mescount=6 However, their last win at home was four league games ago, and their last game was last Tuesday’s 0-3 FA Cup replay defeat at home to Charlton Athletic.
Oxford will of course be looking to bounce back against a Gulls team which is now considerably better than their league position would suggest, though Wilder will be most unlikely to under-estimate our lads, just as Hargreaves will not be expecting an easy game for the Gulls against a team which, despite its recent indifferent form, still occupies a play-off place in the league table.
Hargreaves and Lee Hodges watched the Oxford-Charlton game and they will have planned and prepared accordingly. My feeling is that the two teams are evenly matched and the Gulls have a great chance of pulling off a good win here. Certainly after a two week lay-off they will be keen and determined to get a positive result in the second game of the new Hargreaves era, and in my opinion are more than capable of doing so.
The Oxford team against Charlton was: Clarke, Hunt, Newey, Ruffles, Wright, Raynes, Davies, Mullins, Smalley, Constable (sub Marsh), Rigg (sub O’Dowda). Subs: Rose, Maesh, Long, Lynn, Shama, Bevans, O’Dowda.
For the Gulls game, Oxford welcome back midfielder Nicky Wroe, who missed the midweek defeat by Charlton because he was cup-tied. He was a Plainmoor favourite from 2008 to 2011, and will be fondly remembered by many Gulls fans. He is currently on loan with Oxford from Preston North End. Injured striker Dave Kitson (ankle) and winger Ryan Williams will have late fitness tests ahead of the game.
The Gulls team at Wimbledon was: Poke, O’Connor, Nicholson, Lathrope, Pearce, Downes, Mansell, Labadie, Hawley, Stockley (sub Bodin), Benyon. Subs: Tonge, Bodin, Cameron, Chappell, Rice, Goodwin, Craig. Torquay have no fresh injury worries and could bring new signing Shaun Cooper into the side at the back.
This is a game all Gulls fans will be relishing. Unfortunately I cannot get away to see it, but I’ve no doubt there will be a sizeable contingent of Gulls fans there to cheer the lads on to hopefully another fine win.
Oxford have been at the Kassam Stadium since 2001, having moved there from the Manor Ground, the re-development of which was considered to be too costly. Last season was blighted by injuries and patchy form: after opening the season with three wins and briefly heading the table, Oxford lost their next six games, a pattern of inconsistency that was to continue throughout the season. They finished outside the play-offs for the third consecutive season, but manager Chris Wilder was given a further one-year contract in April 2013.
Some Oxford fans were unhappy about the decision to renew Wilder's contract, having pressed for his sacking during the second half of the 2012–13 season. Some still feel that way now, though many clubs would probably be quite happy to have Wilder as their manager. It was recently reported that Northampton Town are interested in the Oxford boss becoming the Cobblers’ new manager, but Wilder is definitely in charge for the Oxford-Torquay game.
For those interested in meaningless statistics (meaningless because so far this season in League Two anybody has been capable of beating anybody on the day), Oxford’s form over their past six league games has been the same as Torquay’s: P6 W2 D2 L2. http://weekendfootball.co.uk/analysis/f ... mescount=6 However, their last win at home was four league games ago, and their last game was last Tuesday’s 0-3 FA Cup replay defeat at home to Charlton Athletic.
Oxford will of course be looking to bounce back against a Gulls team which is now considerably better than their league position would suggest, though Wilder will be most unlikely to under-estimate our lads, just as Hargreaves will not be expecting an easy game for the Gulls against a team which, despite its recent indifferent form, still occupies a play-off place in the league table.
Hargreaves and Lee Hodges watched the Oxford-Charlton game and they will have planned and prepared accordingly. My feeling is that the two teams are evenly matched and the Gulls have a great chance of pulling off a good win here. Certainly after a two week lay-off they will be keen and determined to get a positive result in the second game of the new Hargreaves era, and in my opinion are more than capable of doing so.
The Oxford team against Charlton was: Clarke, Hunt, Newey, Ruffles, Wright, Raynes, Davies, Mullins, Smalley, Constable (sub Marsh), Rigg (sub O’Dowda). Subs: Rose, Maesh, Long, Lynn, Shama, Bevans, O’Dowda.
For the Gulls game, Oxford welcome back midfielder Nicky Wroe, who missed the midweek defeat by Charlton because he was cup-tied. He was a Plainmoor favourite from 2008 to 2011, and will be fondly remembered by many Gulls fans. He is currently on loan with Oxford from Preston North End. Injured striker Dave Kitson (ankle) and winger Ryan Williams will have late fitness tests ahead of the game.
The Gulls team at Wimbledon was: Poke, O’Connor, Nicholson, Lathrope, Pearce, Downes, Mansell, Labadie, Hawley, Stockley (sub Bodin), Benyon. Subs: Tonge, Bodin, Cameron, Chappell, Rice, Goodwin, Craig. Torquay have no fresh injury worries and could bring new signing Shaun Cooper into the side at the back.
This is a game all Gulls fans will be relishing. Unfortunately I cannot get away to see it, but I’ve no doubt there will be a sizeable contingent of Gulls fans there to cheer the lads on to hopefully another fine win.
:~D