Lewis demands high standards from Oxford United (From The Oxford Times)
When It Happens Panel Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email
Lewis demands high standards from Oxford United
9:40am Friday 20th July 2012 in Sport
By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458
COMPETITION to get into Oxford United ’s starting line-up for the new season will ensure standards do not drop at Didcot Town tonight, according to assistant manager Mickey Lewis .
The U’s got their pre-season campaign off to a flying start on Tuesday with a 1-0 win against West Ham United at the Kassam Stadium .
They visit the more modest surroundings of Didcot’s Loop Meadow Stadium this evening, but Lewis does not believe the players will approach the game any differently.
He said: “The fact is that you’re building towards the season and everyone’s trying to get a place in the team.
“It’s a team game but sometimes in pre-season it can become an individual game as well because everyone’s trying to get in that starting XI.
“I think we’ve got a really good bunch of professionals so I don’t think we’ll have a problem with that anyway.”
Didcot also performed well in their only friendly so far, losing 3-2 against a Reading XI last week.
Alfie Potter, who scored in a 6-0 win for United in the same fixture 12 months ago, is not taking the game lightly.
He said: “It will probably be more difficult than West Ham because we’ll be expected to win against Didcot.
“We’ll come up against teams in the league we’ll be expected to beat where conditions aren’t as good as the Kassam, so it’s good practice.
“We’ll be looking to win every game in pre-season and it’ll be no different at Didcot.”
United are planning to play different outfield teams in each half, as they did against the Hammers.
Wayne Brown is likely to play 90 minutes in goal, while the six triallists who featured in midweek will get another chance to impress U’s boss Chris Wilder .
The only new injury concern is Jon-Paul Pittman, who may sit out the game as a precaution with a tight hamstring.
click2find
