Oxford United start with trip to Bristol Rovers (From The Oxford Times)

Oxford United start with trip to Bristol Rovers

9:00am Monday 18th June 2012 in Sport By Mark Edwards , Sports Editor. Call me on 01865 425451

OXFORD United open their npower League Two campaign with a trip to Bristol Rovers after the fixtures were released this morning.

And it's a repeat of last season in the fact that the U's start and finish their campaign on the road, and are also away on Boxing Day.

Chris Wilder takes his side to Bristol on Saturday, August 18 - four days after their season starts with a home Carling Cup match against AFC Bournemouth.

The match will have added spice with Rovers interested in signing United's leading scorer James Constable - so far having two bids rejected for the striker.

United end with an unglamorous trip to Accrington Stanley on Saturday, April 27.

The U's will be particularly unhappy that yet again they must travel on Boxing Day - this season going south to take on relegated Exeter.

They are, at least, at home to local rivals Cheltenham on New Year's Day - a match that is sure to attract a bumper crowd.

United's first home league match is against Southend on Tuesday, August 21, with Wilder's men also at home to Plymouth four days later.

Oxford's trip to Cheltenham is early in the season - on Tuesday, September 18, with their first match with Wycombe, which is also away, on Saturday, October 27.

The reverse fixture sees the Chairboys come to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday, April 6.

September looks a particularly tough month, with four of United's six games away from home to York, Burton, Cheltenham and title favourites Rotherham.

Matches against new-boys Fleetwood take place on December 22, at home, and January 26 away.

KEY DATES Aug 18 Bristol Rovers (a)

Aug 21 Southend (h)

Aug 25 Plymouth (h)

Sep 18 Cheltenham (a)

Oct 27 Wycombe (a)

Dec 26 Exeter (a)

Dec 29 AFC Wimbledon (a)

Jan 1 Cheltenham (h)

Feb 9 Bristol Rovers (h)

Apr 6 Wycombe (h)

Apr 27 Accrington Stanley (a)