Oxford v Burton

I'm going for a Burton tomorrow to watch them take on Oxford at the Kassam,

And manager Paul Peschisolido is looking for revenge after the Us did a demolition job on his side in the same fixture last term. The Canadian told the Derby Telegraph:

"They were probably the only team that properly steamrollered us for 90 minutes all season.


They are a strong, athletic side with two full-backs who like to bomb on and can score goals. They have a midfield who like to pass through you and two good strong strikers. So I think this game could be a good pointer for us, if we want to be challenging at all near the top this season.

We'll perhaps be a little more cautious than we were at home against Plymouth last week. The game plan will be different. I'm looking for a performance with a lot of energy – spoiling their game in midfield wherever we can, containing their passing. Our attacking players will have to be prepared to defend when we haven't got possession. Then, if we can contain their threats, we can be a threat too – we can be a force to be reckoned with."

And defender Ryan Austin, 26, recalled the defeat at the Kassam and told the Burton Mail:

"“We were disappointed. I think Mooro (Darren Moore) and Parkesy (Tom Parkes) got sent off there and they turned us over, so that’s something we’ll be looking to rectify this year, and there’s no reason why we should be scared on anyone this season.

We’ve beaten some of the so-called bigger names in the league so there’s no reason that we shouldn’t go to Oxford, in good form, and try and get a positive result. Last year we were perhaps in a little bit of a negative run, we were perhaps feeling sorry for ourselves a little bit because we were playing a million games a week, or so it seemed.

Oxford appear to have finally put to bed the speculation that has linked James Constable with several clubs recently, but unfortunately they will be without co-striker Jonathan Franks, 21,  after the Boro loanee was ruled out for at least a month with a dislocated shoulder.

Arguably Constable would have been allowed to move on if it hadn't been for Franks injury, but he's one of those players who you know will commit to the cause no matter what his personal situation is. And he'll be up for another battle with Moore who - as Constable told me himself - gave him a wretched time in the reverse fixture (a draw) last season.