FIXTURE DETAILS

 Woking vs Oxford City

Vanarama National League

The Laithwaite Community Stadium | Tuesday 6th February, 19:45

Referee: Ryan Atkin   Assistants: David Pilling & Thomas Holden   Fourth Official: Daniel Maylon

RECENT FORM

Oxford City - L L L W L

After an impressive victory at home to Ebbsfleet United, things were starting to look up for Oxford City. Furthermore, after going into the interval at Kidderminster 2-0 up it looked pretty certain that the Hoops were going to secure back-to-back victories.

However, football is a cruel game, and as City have found out (too) many times this season - when it rains, it pours...

The defeat at Aggborough will still sting. However, in City's last six defeats, they'll take some encouragement by the fact that only one goal has been the decider. It's the fine margins that continue to pose problems to the squad.

Furthermore, City's away form seems to be a problem. The squad have only won twice away from home throughout the 23/24 campaign. A stat that's only 'beaten' by Wealdstone (who have taken one less point from away fixtures).

There is one silver lining though. The team with the worst home record in the division... Woking.

Woking - L L L W L

Nobody predicted Woking to be in a relegation dog-fight before a ball was kicked this season. Last year, Darren Sarll's side were one of the front runners in the play-off chase, but defeat to Bromley ended their campaign and EFL dreams.

However, nobody would've predicted the Cardinals to have secured victory on the road at Oldham two weeks ago either! Jermaine Anderson's strike on that occasion is the only reason that the Hoops don't have a fellow side sitting on 27 points.

However, take Woking's form with a pinch of salt! Under rookie Manager Michael Doyle, they've been beaten by both high-flying Chesterfield & Play-Off chasing Solihull Moors in their last five. The other two blotches on their card being a 3-2 defeat to rivals Aldershot & Saturday's defeat to Boreham Wood.

A win for Woking on Tuesday would take them out of the relegation zone, but as mentioned before, their home form has been poor this year. The Cardinals have picked up just two wins at the Laithwaite Community Stadium (versus Dorking & Rochdale), and you have to cast your eyes all the way back to August for their last National League home victory.

THE GAFFER'S THOUGHTS

Oxford City Manager Ross Jenkins spoke to the media ahead of Tuesday'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.

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.