Goal fest at the Kassam? – Mad Hatter Rap

Just got the word that I'll be covering the Oxford/Stockport clash at the weekend and if it's only half as much as my only other two visits this season, there should be loads of goals.


I have seen Bristol Rovers (in League Cup) and Morecambe let in ten goals between them and the way Chris Wilder has got Oxford playing, I can't see them letting up against The Hatters.

Paul Simpson's men have only taken the scalp of Macclesfield so far this season who are one place below them at the wrong end of the table. By contrast, Oxford have been playing attractive attacking football - even when they've been losing.

It's still early days of course and you'd expect a manager of Simpson's calibre to be able to turn things around.

As a player, Simpson managed nearly 150 appearances for Oxford as a winger and scored over forty goals becoming a fans' favourite in the process. However, he left the club after a four year tenure back in 1992 and eighteen years is a long time in football.

I'm sure some of the older Oxford fans will give Simpson a warm welcome, but the younger generation might not be as charitable.

Still, the former Manchester City man has been there, done it and go an embroidered t-shirt so I'm sure a few jeers won't affect him.

I remember seeing Simpson play at the old Manor Ground and he was nimble, quick skilful and – for a winger – quite brave. All of these attributes saw him pick up five England U-21 caps while playing at Maine Road before joining Oxford.

Simpson’s playing career took him to Derby, Wolves and Blackpool before he cut his teeth as a player-manager for both Rochdale and Carlisle.

His only season with Rochdale didn’t go too well and they just managed to beat relegation, but his return to home town club Carlisle ultimately proved to be the highlight of his management career so far.

Suffering from financial problems and signing restrictions, Carlisle were relegated from the football league into the Conference (an experience most Oxford fans can empathise with) before Simpson led them straight back via the play-offs and then on to League One the following season (an experience most Oxford fans are dreaming about).

He was then sacked by both Preston (despite taking them to their highest ever position for 55years) and Shrewsbury where he dispensed with the services of current Oxford striker James Constable, but took the Shrews to the Play-Off Final.

Simpson joined Stockport this summer and so it’s too early for anyone to pass judgement, but his history in management would suggest that there’s a good chance that things will start looking up at some point soon - I’d predict that it won’t be at the Kassam on Saturday though!

Song artist: Alex Farnham