After a strong end to the 2014/15 season, which saw them go eight games unbeaten, many tipped Oxford United as outsiders for promotion this season.

A 13th place finish last season saw optimism that could be improved on in the current campaign.

With Michael Appleton at the helm, the U’s have started this season brightly and will travel to The Wham Stadium full of confidence.

Michael Appleton joined Oxford as head coach in July 2014, having previously been manager of Blackburn Rovers.

The former Preston midfielder started his career at Manchester United and also spent three years at West Brom. After his career was ended by a knee injury, he stayed with West Brom as a coach and also had a spell as caretaker manager before becoming Roy Hodgson’s assistant.

His first permanent managerial post was at Portsmouth in 2011, after which he had a brief spell in charge of Blackpool before his move to Blackburn.

Kemar Roofe joined Oxford on loan from West Brom in February 2015 before signing a three-year contract in May 2015. He is an attacking midfielder who had been at the Hawthorns since signing as a schoolboy.

He had loan spells at Northampton Town, Cheltenham Town and Colchester United before coming to Oxford. Kemar can play on either wing or up front and has five goals in the first nine league games. He has become known for scoring spectacular goals.

A 2-1 midweek victory over Yeovil made it four successive wins for Stanley, who are eight games unbeaten in League Two.

The Reds sit fourth in the League Two table, two better off than Oxford and two from top spot.

The U’s are unbeaten in three games having beaten York in midweek and drawn with Morecambe and Portsmouth before that.

They’ve lost just once in six matches, a 1-0 defeat at Northampton Town three weeks ago.

They’re currently sixth in the League Two table.

Defender Tom Davies has had another scan on his knee injury and hopes to resume training soon.

Fellow centre back Dean Winnard is being monitored after missing Tuesday’s victory over Yeovil.

Captain Terry Gornell is likely to be on the bench again as he battles an ankle problem.

Adults £20
Concessions (Over 65′s & Students*) £15
Under 18′s £10
Accompanied Under 12′s^ £5

*all students must show valid student ID at the turnstile or ticket office
^all under 12’s must be accompanied by an adult

The official website will have live text commentary on the game.

There will be updates on the club Twitter and Facebook accounts.

At full time a full match report will be posted online and on social media, followed by post match reaction.

The matchday programme is available from around the ground on the afternoon of the game, priced at £3.

In this edition you’ll find an in depth interview with cover star Jason Mooney discussing the start to his Stanley career.

There’s also an interview with Matt Crooks about the turnaround in his tenure with the club and the second member of our Football League Dream Team, Peter Cavanagh, speaks to us.

That’s in addition to columns from John Coleman and Terry Gornell, all the news from the Wham Stadium, essential info on the visitors and the pre-match views of an Oxford supporter.