VITAL PREVIEW: Oxford United

Swindon Town travel down the A420 to play local rivals Oxford United in what will no doubt be a heavily heated affair on the pitch and in the stands.

Both teams go into the match with a cloud over them. It has been well documented the row between Paolo Di Canio and goalkeeper Wes Foderingham this week with all major news outlets making it a big story. The two have since resolved their differences and Foderingham is set to be available for selection for the tie.

Mystery surrounds the future of Oxford manager Chris Wilder who has been heavily linked with the vacant managerial vacancy at League One side Coventry City. Many are expecting that Wednesday will be the day Coventry may make an official approach for the Oxford boss.

"Once it can happen - I know, I was a footballer and I can understand and I know him exactly because he`s a genuine guy, a strong character is some way. He`s a bit arrogant, I was more arrogant than him in the past in my life, it can happen.

"But there are rules you have to respect but now everything is done, we move on and we are looking forward to working together."

Paolo Di Canio on the Wes Foderingham Row

As noted above, Wilder is subject of a move to Coventry City to take over the vacant managers role. Former Town loanee Daniel Boateng who was rubbish for Swindon, could make his Oxford debut after joining on loan from Arsenal until January. Oxford currently sit third in the League Two table on 9 points, one behind leaders Gillingham until their traditional second half of the season collapse after Christmas.James Constable will be looking to appease the yellow bellies by scoring against Swindon again. Constable rejected a move to Swindon and was red carded the last time the teams met. He has pretty much warmed the bench ever since apart from a failed bid from Bristol Rovers in the region of £200,000. Oxford suffered their first league loss a 3-1 defeat to York City on the weekend. Michael Duberry, Peter Leven, Andy Whing, Liam Davis, Harry Worley and Sean Rigg are all expected to miss the game through injury. Lee Cox won't be available for selection against his parent club, Swindon Town.

Forster-Caskey is currently on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion and is one of the hottest properties up and coming in the Championship.

Paolo Di Canio said he would change his entire starting XI if he could after the shambolic performance on Sunday during Town's 4-1 thumping by Preston. Gary Roberts and Matt Ritchie are expected to miss the match through injury. Di Canio already stated Jay McEveley will not play meaning Federico Bassone will get his Swindon Town debut at left back.

Bostock was one of the only players who seemed to care in Town's 4-1 loss at Preston on the weekend. With Paolo saying he would change all eleven players if he could against Oxford, expect Bostock to start on the wing instead of Luke Rooney.

Oxford United did the double over Swindon Town last season and haven't shut up about it ever since. We had the last laugh though, we gave them six points and they still screwed up the playoffs.

Whenever Paolo serves and ultimatum Town respond so we will go with a 3-1 win with Oxford taking the lead. Of course our win 'won't matter' as its 'only the mickey mouse JPT'.

Town welcome Leyton Orient to the County Ground saturday for a reunion with Scott Cuthbert. Funnily enough, Orient were the team that relegated Oxford the conference at the end of the 2005/06 season.

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