Next Up: Exeter City vs Oxford United

There is a growing sense of momentum with City after three straight wins which will be put to the test by an Oxford side that is justifying the hype this season. City were afforded a glimpse of life after Tom Nichols at Hartlepool last week as the striker was missing from the 18 as he finalised his move to Peterborough, but goals from his near namesake Alex Nicholls and Joel Grant suggested the 12 goal top scorer may not be missed all that much after all. David Wheeler has declared himself fit after completing 60 minutes of an under 21 fixture in midweek, while David Noble is also rumoured to be there or thereabouts.

Oxford signalled their intentions in pre-season with several marquee signings to put them presumably in the top bracket in terms of wages, and it remained to be seen whether Michael Appleton, who’d hitherto enjoyed mixed fortunes in management, could meld them together into a team fighting at the top. It’s safe to say he has done so, with Oxford sitting pretty in the top three with a gap opening up to the rest, as well as getting his side to Wembley in the JPT and beating Swansea in the FA Cup.

While Oxford lost George Baldock, recalled by parent club MK Dons, the Us were able to strengthen in the window with the permanent signing of former loanee Chris Maguire from Rotherham and the loan of Zeli Ismail from Wolves. The standout player has been Kemar Roofe, who dropped three divisions to sign for Oxford in the summer after a successful loan spell, but looks like he may have dropped too far with bigger clubs already sniffing around. Roofe has 18 goals in all competitions to his name, while second on the list with 13 is a name familiar to City supporters – Liam Sercombe has certainly found his goalscoring touch since moving from City in the summer. Another former City player, Ryan Taylor, won’t be available due to injury.

City made the trip to the Kassam Stadium on Boxing Day. An even first half saw one major flashpoint right near half time when Chey Dunkley, already booked, committed a crude foul on Ollie Watkins that should have seen him issued a second yellow, but the referee decided otherwise. With Dunkley subbed off at half time Oxford went into overdrive, scoring three good goals from Lundstram, Baldock and, inevitably, Sercombe. Last season’s match at the park ended 1-1 as winless City went ahead through a Cummins penalty before O’Dowda equalised. City enjoy a healthy league head-to-head lead with 15 wins to Oxford’s 8 (14 draws).

Match Officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2016/02/02/match-officials-exeter-city-vs-oxford-united/

Last season’s encounter http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?sp_event=4173