FIXTURE DETAILS

 Woking vs Oxford City

Vanarama National League

The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Saturday 20th January, 15:00

Referee: Greg Rollason | Assistants: Bradley Mingay & Harley McKittrick | Fourth Official: Adam Steele

RECENT FORM

Oxford City - L L W L L

Defeat against a rejuvenated Hartlepool United side was a tough result to take from Ross Jenkins men. However, perhaps a week off is just what the doctor ordered for the Hoops.

Defeats against Boreham Wood & Solihull Moors didn't reflect the performance from the team, but that was followed by a hard-fought three points away at Dorking Wanderers on Boxing Day.

The departures of Olly Sanderson & Jack Bycroft will give Ross Jenkins some decisions to make ahead of Saturday. However, in the Goalkeeping department Marcin Brzozowski & Chris Haigh will be ready to step up to the task if called upon.

Up front, Alex Fisher made his debut for the Hoops in the North East and after a couple of weeks on the training ground with his new teammates, may be in line to play a bigger role than his cameo at the start of the month.

Woking - W D D L L

Woking's last victory came on the 16th December when they ran out as 2-1 victors away at Dorking Wanderers. The next day, they appointed Michael Doyle as their new manager after the departure of Darren Sarll a month prior.

Two nil-nil draws with Maidenhead & Aldershot followed as the new man at the helm re-enforced a defence that had conceded twelve goals in their last seven games. A run that also included two cup exits to lower league opponents, a 2-1 defeat to Ramsgate in the Emirates FA Cup & a 3-2 defeat to Weston Super Mare in the Isuzu FA Trophy.

However, since then they've been beaten twice in the National League. A 3-2 defeat to bitter rivals Aldershot Town will still sting for the Cards' supporters, but Doyle will be disappointed with a 3-0 drubbing away at promotion-chasing Solihull Moors.

THE GAFFER'S THOUGHTS

Oxford City Manager Ross Jenkins spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's trip to Woking.

"I think the league is so unpredictable right now," he said.

"There's games in which we feel we should have won, and there's probably games where they'll (Woking) be thinking the same thing.

"Everyone has beaten everyone at some point, so it (the league table) can look a bit false, but it is what it is.

"I think we're probably one or two places where we should be and they'll probably think the same thing.

"We need to be aware that they are a really good team still. We have to address that this is a new team, with different ideas, manager and shape possibly from the last time we met.

"It's a game we're really looking forward to because we've had this break."

ONE TO WATCH - Rhys Browne

A proven National League player, Rhys Browne could be the man to lead Woking away from the danger zone.

An Antigua & Barbuda international (alongside City Striker Josh Parker), Browne has EFL experience with the likes of Grimsby Town, Yeovil Town and Port Vale, after coming through Charlton's Athletic's academy. He also knows his way out of this division, after helping Sutton United to promotion in 2021.

Last season he joined Wealdstone in the National League, and his red-hot form quickly earned him a move back to full-time football with Saturday opponents.

Since Michael Doyle has taken over at the helm, Browne has been a key part in the new manager's team. He has four goals in his last seven games.

HAVE WE MET BEFORE?

Woking are one of the sides that City have been used to playing over the years in the National League South.

However, the last meeting between the two teams ended in a 3-2 victory for the Hoops in early November.

Zac McEachran gave City the lead after fourteen minutes, before Olly Sanderson added a second goal just before the half hour mark.

Padraig Amond pulled a goal back for the Cardinals (then managed by Darren Sarll) in the 69th minute, but the points were sealed in dramatic fashion, as Josh Parker capitalised on a goalkeeping error to seal the points.

Amond did grab a second goal in the 90+9th minute to give City a late scare, but the damage had been done by the Hoops.

THE MANAGER - Michael Doyle

After a month-long search for a new manager, one of football's born leaders took the reigns.

Doyle amassed 866 professional first team appearances during his playing career and holds the record for the fourth-highest appearances in English football history. Across numerous clubs and leagues, the Irishman accumulated 15-years of captaincy.

He has been capped at senior level for the Republic of Ireland, representing his country against the Netherlands.

Doyle featured for some of British football’s biggest clubs during his playing career, coming through the ranks at Celtic under Martin O’Neill, captaining in the Championship for Coventry City and making 265 league appearances, winning promotion with Leeds United, leading Sheffield United in 188 league appearances, and captaining Portsmouth and Notts County.

In eight of his final ten seasons as a player, Doyle captained his sides to either the play-offs or promotion.

Doyle was Assistant Head Coach in the National League with Notts County and was central to the shift in ethos and mentality at the Club alongside Ian Burchnall, leading the Magpies to the Play-offs where they were narrowly eliminated by a late goal from Grimsby. The success at Notts County led to a move to Forest Green Rovers in League One; the Magpies earned promotion the next season following their contributions.

HOW TO FOLLOW

FOLLOW THE ACTION:

Stay tuned to our official Twitter page for all the build-up, regular updates and post-match action.

LIVE COMMENTARY ON BBC SOUNDS

This match will have LIVE commentary on BBC Sounds curtesy of BBC Radio Oxford. Simply tune in to BBC Radio Oxford on the BBC Sounds app, or head to the non-league commentary page HERE.