The Kassam awaits

A trip to table toppers Oxford United awaits Stevenage Borough as Graham Westley’s side look to build on the first win of the season in midweek against Ebbsfleet. The Kassam Stadium is not an easy place to go at this level and Boro’s record there in the past 3 seasons highlights that point even further. In fact we have had a different manager for every visit to Oxford so far. Under Mark Stimson, an Eddie Odhiambo inspired U’s comfortably beat Boro 2-0. The next season saw Peter Taylor’s side again lose at the Kassam 2-1. Last season saw Graham Westley’s slowly improving team win a hard earned point thanks to David Bridges’ first goal for the club.

Stevenage are also ‘slowly improving’ this season. After an average first 3 games, the team sprung into life on Tuesday night beating a poor Ebbsfleet side 3-0 at Broadhall Way. After struggling to score goals in the first 3 games, everything finally fell into place in midweek and it was a well deserved victory in the end. I assume that after a good performance, maybe GW will leave things as they are, but I highly doubt it. Charlie Griffin and Chris Day are back from injury and will be again pushing for places. GW must also decide whether to bring back Joel Byrom into the starting eleven after a good cameo appearance against Ebbsfleet.

“They are a fancied side and it’s never an easy place to go. My record there is okay, I’ve only been there twice and got a win and a draw. You have to play a certain way when you go there. They are a decent enough side and have some good players. They have a strong front line and are one of the sides that will be up there come the end.” Westley on Oxford

Oxford have always been ‘fancied’ to go back up ever since their relegation from League 2 in 2006. Jim Smith and Darren Patterson have both failed, but now former Alfreton and Halifax Town manager Chris Wilder looks like he could be the man to deliver football in the league again. The U’s had a similar season to ours last year. They started poorly which ended Patterson’s reign and brought in Wilder. Wilder did a superb job and nearly steered Oxford into the play-offs, but fell short due to a deduction on points. If only they could get a fax machine that works?

This summer has again saw heavy investment in players at the Kassam and Oxford along with Luton are hot favourites for promotion from the Blue Square Premier. James Constable is without doubt the best striker outside the football league and he has already shown his worth so far this season. He and strike partner Matt Green have hit 7 goals between them in the last 2 games. Bad news for us is that he always seems to score against us.

Other familiar faces in the Oxford squad include former Boro trainee Jack Midson, midfielder Dannie Bulman and full back Damien Batt. They have a strong squad of proven BSP players and were my tip at the start of the season to win promotion. Simon Clist is a great player for them and adds real quality to the Oxford line up along with Adam Murray and Adam Chapman in the midfield. Oxford look like they could have the team and manager to finally deliver promotion this time around.

There’s no doubt about it, a trip to Oxford is never usually easy for Boro, but I fear the worse when it comes to thinking about tomorrow’s game. Oxford are on fire at the moment and Boro have started slowly. Although defensively we have looked solid, we have lacked the firepower up front and that could cost us tomorrow. The Ebbsfleet game was good, but Oxford are a far better side than Liam Daish’s team. Their defence will be much more organised and I expect Constable will continue his good form in front of goal. It’s going to be difficult, but we are tough to beat and we’ll need to be tomorrow to come back to Hertfordshire with anything at all.

Stevenage Squad

Ashley Bayes, Chris Day, Lawrie Wilson, Scott Laird, Ronnie Henry, Jon Ashton, Mark Roberts, Mark Albrighton, Eddie Odhiambo, Michael Bostwick, Stacy Long, Peter Vincenti, David Bridges, Darren Murphy, Andy Drury, Joel Byrom, Mitchell Cole, Yemi Odubade, Lee Boylan, Charlie Griffin, Chris Beardsley

Prediction: Oxford 2-0 Boro