Match preview: York City v Oxford United (From York Press)

Match preview: York City v Oxford United

11:30am Friday 31st August 2012 in Sport By Dave Flett, Sports reporter

TABLE-TOPPING Oxford United could be without eight injured players for tomorrow’s League Two clash at York City.

On-loan Swindon midfielder Lee Cox recently joined crocked quintet Michael Duberry, Andy Wing, Peter Leven, Liam Davis and Harry Worley in the Kassam Stadium treatment room.

Jake Forster-Caskey and Deane Smalley also remain doubtful after their respective ankle and groin problems ruled them out of Tuesday’s 3-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Leeds United.

Should on-loan Brighton teenager Forster-Caskey miss out against the Minstermen then left-back Tony Capaldi is set to continue in midfield.

On-loan Arsenal defender Daniel Boateng and first-year pro striker Tyrone Marsh are also both expected to be included in the squad against the Minstermen, having both made their debuts off the bench at Elland Road, where fellow teenager David Lynn was also required to make up the numbers.

The injuries are testing Chris Wilder’s squad following a 100 per cent start to the new League Two season – a record that can only be matched by Gillingham.

Oxford have beaten Southend (2-0) and Plymouth (2-1) in back-to-back home matches following a 2-0 opening-day success at Bristol Rovers.

The promising start to the campaign contrasts strongly with their end to last term when a run of seven games without a win and three points from a possible 21 cost the club a play-off place.

The former League Cup winners eventually finished two positions outside and four points adrift of the top seven.

Attacking talisman James Constable, however, has not seen his fortunes in front of goal improve over the summer.

Last season’s 11-goal U’s top scorer has not netted since a 2-1 home win over Barnet back in February and has now failed to hit the target in 14 matches.

The U’s have still, however, rejected three bid for Constable – ironically from first-day opponents Bristol Rovers – with the last in the region of £200,000.

Constable will be one of five players likely to face the Minstermen tomorrow that were also on duty in the 2010 Blue Square Bet Premier play-off final between the two clubs.

The others are right-back Damien Batt, centre-half Jake Wright, midfielder Adam Chapman and winger Alfie Potter.

Oxford (probable): Clarke, Batt, Raynes, Wright, McGinty, Heslop, Chapman, Capaldi, Rigg, Constable, Potter.

Match facts

Oxford United are making their first Football League trip to Bootham Crescent since October 2003 when a Third Division encounter ended 2-2.

City’s line-up on October 21, 2003 included Lee Bullock and Chris Smith and was: Ovendale, Cooper, Merris (Wood), Brass, Smith, Hope, Dunning, Ward, Bullock, Nogan, Parkin (George). Lee Nogan and Richard Hope were the scorers.

In total, United have made 12 previous League visits in the old Second, Third and Fourth Divisions and honours are even with five wins to each club and two draws.

City’s biggest home win was 2-0 in the Second Division (Championship) in 1975/6 when Barry Swallow and Dennis Wann were on target. United’s best victory here was 4-1 in 1965/6.

The clubs met four times at Bootham Crescent in the Conference and City recorded just one win. This was on the last day of the 2006/7 campaign when a goal from Neal Bishop earned all three points and ensured a promotion play-off position.

The attendance of 5,378 was the biggest in Conference football at Bootham Crescent (excluding the play-offs).

Oxford also finished in the top four that term but both clubs were knocked out in the semi-finals.

Managerial links are provided by Denis Smith and Malcolm Crosby while former City boss Martin Foyle played for Oxford.

It happened on September 1

1937: Malcolm Comrie scored both goals in a 2-0 home win over Doncaster Rovers watched by 8,633.

1984: A 3-1 win at Swansea in the Third thanks to goals from Keith Walwyn (2) and John Byrne.

1992: City beat Torquay United 2-1 at Bootham Crescent and had started this Third Division (League Two) campaign with a club record four straight wins. Nigel Pepper (penalty) and Ray Warburton were on the scoresheet watched by 3,365.

2001: Michael Proctor scored in a 1-0 win over Halifax Town in the Third Division. The crowd was 2,646.

Compiled by Dave Batters