After another very disappointing defeat that saw City drop to the bottom of the table, and talk of supporter unrest reaching fever pitch with a petition calling for the manager’s head, it’s increasingly looking like “do or die” time for City and Paul Tisdale with the visit of the side immediately above them. Tisdale and GwinnettThe board has addressed supporters’ concerns over the price differential between advance sales and pay on the gate prices in the hope that this attracts a few of the waverers back, but it is on the pitch that will determine whether the stay away fans return to the fold. The treatment room has emptied with just Jamie Reid now on the long term injury list, so Tisdale is able to select what he considers his strongest side for the visit of Oxford – it remains to be seen what that is!

2014 has so far been a nightmare for Oxford fans. It’s difficult to think that not far short of a year ago when the sides met at the Kassam this was a match to see who would be in the automatic promotion wheeler_at_oxfordplaces as, like City, Oxford have been in freefall for several months. While with City one could point to the dire financial situation of the club, it’s more difficult to pin down the reason for Oxford’s demise, although the departure of Chris Wilder to Northampton seems to have coincided with their downturn in fortunes. Having slid out of the promotion picture in the wake of Wilder jumping ship, Michael Appleton – a name synonymous with abject mediocrity in several recent jobs – has sought to deliver the winning formula without success so far. Their fortunes have improved recently – two successive draws plus they took West Brom to penalties in the Capital One Cup – and Appleton will be looking to build on that. He will have to do so without Will Hoskins, who is injured, but he has moved to sign Tyrone Barnett on loan from oxford_exeter_thumbPeterborough this week. Barnett caught the eye at Macclesfield and Crawley but his career has stalled more recently. One man amongst the goals, however, is former Aldershot forward Danny Hytlon, who has six to his name already this season.

This fixture is often connected to goals, but that was not the case last season as both matches ended 0-0. City enjoy a comfortable head-to-head lead, with 15 league wins to Oxford’s 7 (12 draws).

Match Officials – http://www.exeweb.com/2014/09/10/match-officials-exeter-city-v-oxford-united/

Last season’s action

By Jason H

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