Oxford Utd V Aldershot at The Kassam Stadium : Match Preview

07 December 2012 12:02
Oxford Utd V Aldershot - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Constable back on the beat

Oxford are set to recall Tuesday night's goalscoring substitute James Constable to their starting line-up for the clash with strugglers Aldershot at the Kassam.

The U's, who knocked Plymouth out of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday night after a penalty shoot-out, named Constable on the bench to give the striker a rest and the former Kidderminster man came on and scored Oxford's equaliser.

Manager Chris Wilder handed youngster Tyrone Marsh, 18, his first start after he impressed in training, yet the player is set to make way for Constable who has now scored in his last three Oxford appearances.

"We will respect that Aldershot have good players and got a good result up at Fleetwood, but we have to concentrate on ourselves and make sure that we are right," boss Chris Wilder told the club's official website. "We will have a few players back, Tony Capaldi, Peter Leven and Tommy Craddock, which is really good."

The club are waiting to discover the severity of the injuries Andy Whing and Jon-Paul Pittman picked up in the 3-3 FA Cup draw with Accrington.

The day will be tinged with sadness as the U's pay their respects to former player Mitchell Cole, with the players wearing special t-shirts in the warm-up and then everyone joining a minute's applause for the former United winger.

Wilder's side's 2-1 win over Northampton in their last npower League Two outing left them seven points above Aldershot in the first relegation place and the same amount behind the last play-off spot.

Aldershot are boosted by the returns of Dani Lopez and Danny Rose.

The on-loan pair were ineligible for last weekend's FA Cup victory over Fleetwood but make their comebacks at the Kassam Stadium to boost manager Dean Holdsworth's options.

Both players are welcome additions to Holdsworth's squad, with Stevenage striker Lopez having bagged three goals in three games prior to his omission against The Cod Army.

He is likely to partner Danny Hylton in attack after his brace helped see off Fleetwood 3-2.

Fit-again Craig Reid returned from a knee injury to start the FA Cup tie but he is likely to drop to the bench.

Goalkeeper Ross Worner made his first appearance since February in a midweek Hampshire Senior Cup tie having overcome a serious back injury, although it remains to be seen whether he will make the matchday 18 so soon.


Source: PA