Mark Gelder
Oxford United make their first ever league visit to AFC Wimbledon's Cherry Red Records (Kingsmeadow) stadium. United have played the Wombles just twice, back in season 2009/10 in the Conference. The away fixture was won 1-0, thanks to an own goal from Jay Conroy, and the home fixture 2-0, with a brace from James Constable. The game is live on television, United's first tv game since the Wembley play-off final, and the first regular fixture since Burton Albion in April 2009. AFC Wimbledon were predictably chosen for a start of season tv game at home, when they lost 2-3 against Bristol Rovers. This was just a week after their Carling Cup preliminary tie against Crawley, also televised, and also lost 2-3.

Last week, United finally took all three points from a game, winning 2-0 at home against Northampton. The game was notable for two penalties late in the second half, after Tom Craddock's 51st minute opener . The first spot kick was given to United following a foul on Tommy Craddock – who then took over on penalty duties from this season's regular taker Peter Leven. After a furious discussion between the two players, Craddock proceeded to sky the ball above the bar and over towards the cinema, somwhat reminiscent of James Constable's miss against Chelmsford City in the FA Trophy. Luckily Dean Smalley then scored his first league goal for United to put the game to 2-0. Following a ball to arm incident with Damien Batt late on, Adebayo Akinfenwa strolled up and purposely put the ball down low and to the left of Ryan Clarke. Clarke however had dived the right way, and expertly tipped the ball round the post to keep a second successive clean sheet.

Clarke has now apparently faced 13 penalties in 126 appearances, saved six, conceded six and one was missed.

United team news
Robert Hall has been recalled by West Ham after a single day of his youth loan extension. Other than that, it appears that Paul McLaren and Tony Capaldi are now the only injured players, and Michael Duberry could be nearing a return – although Andy Whing has been improving in confidence each week and will not want to be dropped after a man-of-the-match performance last week. Up front there is plenty of competition, with Alfie Potter, Constable, Smalley, Lewis Guy, Matt Fletcher and Jon-Paul Pittman all available.

Wombles news
Strikers Christian Jolley and Kieran Djilali are apparently unfit, and defender Callum McNaughton is also unavailable. United will of course recognise striker Jack Midson, released by United in the Summer. Midson is currently top scorer for the Wombles with 11 in league and cup, but hasn't scored since 22 October in the 5-2 defeat by Crawley.

AFC Wimbledon haven't won since their 2-1 away victory over Morecambe on the 8th October, which put them in third place in the league. Subsequent defeats to Crawley, Torquay, Burton, Bradford, Accrington and Rotherham (with draws against Swindon, Shrewsbury, and Barnet) leave them in 17th place prior to Saturday's televised game on 26 points. After such a promising start, the step up to League 2 is perhaps a little testing, and the restraints of playing in a small capacity ground with a relatively high proportion of season ticket holders means that their squad budget will probably be one of the lower in the league.

AFC Wimbledon of course won promotion to the league last year via the play-off final against Luton Town, which the Wombles won 4-3 on penalties after the game and extra-time finished 0-0. Wimbledon fan and Supporters Direct chief executive Dave Boyle made disparaging remarks on twitter about Peter Winkelman (MK Dons), and Raj Parker, an FA lawyer who was on the panel that approved the move of the old Wimbledon club to Milton Keynes. This then led to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund threatening to withdraw