By Mark Gelder On Saturday Crewe Alexandra make their first ever vist to the Kassam Stadium.  The two teams last met at Oxford in October 1998 in Division One (ie Tier 2, current Championship level), drawing one each at the Manor Ground, with Dean Windass scoring in front of a crowd of 5,607.  Manager for the Alex was of course Dario Gradi, who had been in charge for a mere 16 years back then.  After a two year gap from 2007, Gradi returned in 2009. 

United had the disappointment of a midweek home defeat to Stevenage Boro, and manager Chris Wilder is rightly baffled how basically the same team and players that get a decent away victory against Port Vale just three days before, do not turn up for the game and leave Oxford with a record of eight home defeats this season: only second bottom Barnet have a worse record with nine.  In team news, 22 year old midfielder Ryan Burge has joined on loan from Doncaster Rovers.  Chairman Kelvin Thomas also gave an interview midweek on Radio Oxford to deny that James Constable was about to go out on loan to Wycombe Wanderers (or indeed anywhere unless a substantial transfer fee was involved).  The transfer window closes next Thursday, and there may be a few moves before then, although depending on tomorrow's result manager Wilder may settle for mid-table and decide to rebuild in the Summer. 

Crewe are on a run of seven consecutive away defeats in the league which may give United some hope.  They have though won their last three home games against Chesterfield, Southend and Burton Albion.  Midfielder Ashley Westwood took a knock in their win against Southend, but is expected to be available on Saturday. 
 
The Yellows start the game in 11th on 50 points, one point and two places behind Crewe who have played a game less.  Stevenage are the club in 10th. 

Crewe Alexandra Football Club Company Limited recently submitted their accounts to 30 June 2010, which showed a pre-tax loss for the year of