Match Preview | Buxton v Oxford City
City head north for Buxton showdown.
Oxford City will once again make the long journey North as they face Buxton on Saturday in the Vanarama National League North.
City Manager Ross Jenkins will be hoping his side can extend their winning run away from the MGroup Stadium and look to propel themselves back up the league standings.
Like the Hoops, Buxton come into the game with their last league game a defeat to Brackley. Both sides will be eager to take all three points from the game, in what promises to be a cracker.
Three players return from international duty; Andre Burley, Jalen Jones and Kai McKenzie-Lyle to bolster the squad and keep their defensive record intact. City have conceded just once during their away winning streak.
FIXTURE DETAILS
Buxton v Oxford City
The Tarmac Silverlands Stadium – Saturday 23rd November – 15:00
Vanarama National League North
FORM
OXFORD CITY - W D W D L
Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat to Alfreton stopped City going into the weekend with just one loss in the last nine games in all competitions and sent City back down toward the bottom four for what felt like the first time in months.
The Hoops now sit in 20th position and the Alfreton loss has added to the misery of City’s underachieving home form.
The away form, on the other hand, seems more respective of the talent and quality that runs through this City side.
They travel to the Silverlands looking to make it four away wins in a row… no mean feat in the National League North.
Ten goals in the last five away games will give City the confidence they need to go North and get a result. They’ve scored in every game since the 4-0 loss to Kidderminster back in late August.
BUXTON - W D W W L
Their one loss in the last five came two weeks ago when they were toppled by an in-form Brackley side in a 2-0 defeat. It was their fourth loss of the season at the Silverlands but their third home defeat in the last five.
Their recent form, despite that minor blip, has been impressive and the form table reflects that. Based on the last ten games the Bucks are sat in 6th position.
They also have an impressive goalscoring record, particularly at home, having scored 19 in the ten games they’ve played in front of their fans, the second most of any side so far this season.
The defeat to Buxton put an end to their impressive streak of unbeaten in 6 league games and the Bucks will certainly be hoping to get back to winning ways on Saturday.
ONE TO WATCH - Connor Kirby
Five goals in five games for Kirby before Buxton’s 2-0 defeat to Brackley makes Kirby one of the hottest midfielders in the league at the moment.
He began his career at Sheffield Wednesday before a loan to Macclesfield, which was swiftly followed by a permanent move to Harrogate. Buxton picked up the central midfielder at the end of the 21/22 season.
When Kirby joined the Bucks he had only three goals to his name but since his move to the Derbyshire outfit, he has racked up 19.
The 26-year-old has seven this season making him T6 on the league’s goalscoring list and with the form he is in, he will look to cause City real problems popping up on the edge of the box.
THE MANAGER - John McGrath
It’s McGrath first season in charge of the Bucks, having spent eight years at the helm of Mickleover as player-manager.
His long playing career began at Aston Villa, after a two week trial but after only making two appearances, was sent out on loan. His first permanent move was to Doncaster Rovers during their first season back in the football league.
A couple years later, the Irishman joined his home side Limerick in 2005, scoring his only goal for the club against Athlone Town.
His short spell in charge of the Bucks has been fruitful and their recent form has propelled them into the playoff positions.
HOW TO FOLLOW
FOLLOW THE ACTION:
As per usual, we will be following the game via our Social Channels, including our new WhatsApp Channel where you can read minute-by-minute action as the LIVE event occurs! You can sign up for free HERE.
There's also LIVE commentary on BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website via BBC Radio Oxford.
