Wright backs Oxford United to spring surprise

9:30am Tuesday 26th February 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

Jake Wright believes United can upset Gillingham Jake Wright believes United can upset Gillingham

Jake Wright is confident Oxford United can beat Gillingham tonight, even if the skipper acknowledges some of their own supporters will be fearing the worst.

The U’s have won just one of their last seven games and played out a disappointing goalless draw at home to York City on Saturday.

Gillingham have only lost once over the same period and top the npower League Two table, 22 points ahead of tonight’s visitors.

Wright thinks there will be some people in the away end at Priestfield who will be doubtful about United’s chances, but the centre back is looking forward to the clash.

He said: “Everyone outside of our squad, I think even some of our fans, will be expecting us to go there and get beaten.

“That’s why it’s a good game for us – we’ve got nothing to lose – there are no expectations from anywhere apart from ourselves.

“We’ve got a belief between us and the staff that we can go there and get a result.

“You want to play against the best players in the league and prove you can do it against them.”

Lewis Montrose scored the only goal in Gillingham’s 1-0 win when the sides met in Kent last season.

The midfielder, now on loan at United, is ineligible to play against his parent club, so the visitors will have to make one enforced change.

Andy Whing is the most likely replacement, in what would be his first start since December.

U’s boss Chris Wilder knows his side will need to be near their best to take something from the trip, but takes heart from Gillingham’s home record, which shows just two wins from their last eight games.

He said: “If they play well and true to form they will become really difficult opponents, but there are a couple of home games that we can take a bit of encouragement from.

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“Wycombe went there and won a couple of weeks ago, it sums up the league.

“Sometimes football works in different ways, maybe these are the games where our players do rise to the challenge.”

The Gills have lost on-loan striker Cody McDonald, who has been recalled by Coventry City.

Manager Martin Allen could have the luxury of a fully-fit squad, with Matt Fish (ankle), Andy Frampton (concussion), Danny Kedwell (hamstring) and Charlie Allen (hand) in contention.

Gillingham: from Nelson, Fish, Legge, Barrett, Martin, Gregory, Whelpdale, Robinson, Lee, Burton, Weston, Birchall, Forecast, Davies, Dack, Richardson, Frampton, Williams.

Oxford Utd: from McCormick, Batt, Raynes, Wright, Davis, Parker, Chapman, Whing, Rigg, Constable, Craddock, Smalley, Potter, Heslop, Capaldi, Worley, O’Brien, Duberry, Crocombe.

Comments(20)

BigAlBiker says...
10:11am Tue 26 Feb 13

Lets tuck it up the Gillingham lot tonight, put a dent in there promotion hopes, at least Montrose wont be playing.

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northampton yellow says...
10:59am Tue 26 Feb 13

Dont matter hows playing we wont score let alone win cw as stated that the players be up 4 the challenge so aint they been up for it all season then wilder pack your bags and move on elsewhere people mite start going back to the kassam then

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northampton yellow says...
10:59am Tue 26 Feb 13

Dont matter hows playing we wont score let alone win cw as stated that the players be up 4 the challenge so aint they been up for it all season then wilder pack your bags and move on elsewhere people mite start going back to the kassam then

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Adman says...
12:57pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Cant really see us getting anything tonight. Though we do tend to play well against good clubs nd badly against poor ones. We' either sneak it 1-0 or more likely lose 3-0. 65 points max this year. Just need to get to 50 to be safe.

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osney terrier says...
2:02pm Tue 26 Feb 13

No points tonight
1 point on Staurday-maybe

Steve Maclaren just sacked from FC Twente,he might be worth a punt

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northampton yellow says...
2:36pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Graham westley b another good one

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matty99 says...
3:58pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Need 4 points from next two games to stay in the hunt!

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chrishay123 says...
5:18pm Tue 26 Feb 13

I hope and prey we can get 3 points tonight. I'm going to the Torquay game soon and we should be more confident about getting the win there. COYY!

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former Manorette says...
5:52pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Glad Jake is confident cause i'm not, hope i'm totally wrong but can't see us getting any points tonite but here's hoping. COYY.

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BigAlBiker says...
5:56pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Good to see London Welsh charged by the RFU for fielding an illegible player on numerous times this season, hopefully all points deducted and relegation leading to going back to Richmond, leave our pitch alone.

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moonlight shadow says...
7:19pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Maclaren certainly has experience at a much higher level and, of course played here and also coached the YOUTH team. See here this is heading?
If he could improve the performance of the pesent squad whist instigating an efective youth poicy at the club I would settle for that.
Two questions though: Could we afford his wages? Would the owner back him with money to spend?
If no to either or both it ain't going to happen.

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Bart_simpsonDoh says...
7:45pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Until they get rid of the killer keeper I hope we keep on losing, we deserve nothing.

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hawkeye1 says...
8:09pm Tue 26 Feb 13

I think it is about time, Oxford United took out a lawsuit agains Kassam, for forcing us into ground sharing with a rugby team, and not maintaining the playing surface in the same condition as it was at the time the contract was signed, maybe he should be fined under the slumlord law, as he is a slum landlord, we are never going to progress until he has nothing to do with our club.

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BigAlBiker says...
9:23pm Tue 26 Feb 13

hawkeye1 wrote:
I think it is about time, Oxford United took out a lawsuit agains Kassam, for forcing us into ground sharing with a rugby team, and not maintaining the playing surface in the same condition as it was at the time the contract was signed, maybe he should be fined under the slumlord law, as he is a slum landlord, we are never going to progress until he has nothing to do with our club.
I would investigate the possibility of building up Oxford City's stadium cost wise to league standard.

Kassam could then go and swivel.

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chrishay123 says...
9:46pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Well done Oxford! Can't believe we have just beaten the team that's top of the league! Well done guys!

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osney terrier says...
9:48pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Just how wrong could i have been ?
3 points tonight !!
Can we play all our remaining ganes away ?
Well done

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BigAlBiker says...
10:03pm Tue 26 Feb 13

BigAlBiker wrote:
Lets tuck it up the Gillingham lot tonight, put a dent in there promotion hopes, at least Montrose wont be playing.
Good luck charm or what?

Mighty yellows win away again.

Top banana.

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35 year fan says...
10:06pm Tue 26 Feb 13

nice call jake!

his analysis v good - with no pressure on them these players can deliver. with a bit of expectation and pressure they can't unfortunately. in punters terms, back themat long odds, lay them at short odds and we'll all be rich.

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Richard Wickson says...
10:40pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Despite tonights surprising and unexpected but much needed win i have absolutely no faith in IL or CW, the big plas for me is that as each game get us closer to safety it also gets us closer to CW and 16 players being out of contract. We need a massive cash injection to rid us of Kassam and get us back on track if not next season could be even more worrying than this one has become, investors and buyers very welcome.

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eatmygoal says...
2:07pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Quite a few people commenting yesterday proving they don't know what they are talking about ;-)

Keep the faith

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