Ahead of the season beginning this weekend, we asked Crawley Town sports reporter Kaylee Seckington to give us the low-down on United’s opponents.

It’s been a little while since Oxford and Crawley met each other. What have the last few years been like at the club?

Things are never dull at Crawley Town. Last time the Reds started a League Two season, Steve Evans was manager. Since then there has been Craig Brewster as caretaker, Sean O’Driscoll for five minutes, Richie Barker, John Gregory, Dean Saunders and now Mark Yates. And with all those managers come a lot of new players.

What have Crawley fans made of Yates’ appointment?

I think the Reds fans have been encouraged by the way he has gone about his business in the transfer window, his straight-forward demeanour and his reputation for visually pleasurable football. Hopefully the final scores will be as nice to look at as the 90 minutes before it.

Can you give us an overview of Yates’ transfer business to this point?

For the second season running, Crawley are starting the season with largely a new squad. Yates has brought in quite a lot of youth and has used the loan market effectively. There’s the two teenage keepers – Freddie Woodman (loan) and Callum Preston, while at 25, Joe McNerney, who is in line for his professional debut on Saturday, is likely to the oldest of the Reds defence. With the Izale McLeod saga on-going at the time of writing, it’s likely new signing Lee Barnard and Roarie Deacon will start up front at Oxford.

How has the pre-season campaign gone?

Organised before Yates was appointed, there were too many games, too close together. A deserved win over Reading was the highlight.

Who should Oxford fans be wary of ahead of the game on Saturday?

Wales U21 international winger Gwion Edwards looked out of sorts last season following a hernia operation but in pre-season he looked to be back to his best.

As someone who doesn’t follow Oxford with the same level of bias as us, how do you think Michael Appleton’s side will do this year?

From what I’ve heard Oxford are tipped to be one of the contenders this season. There looks to be some real quality players in the Oxford squad.

And finally, can we get a score prediction from you?

1-1 draw for me.