Mark Gelder
Last Saturday saw another home draw, which most fans will see as points dropped, against an injury depleted Macclesfield Town. An own goal from Michael Duberry was levelled by Oli Johnson before half time.

Onto the game we've all been waiting for since 25th April last year, when Oxford United were playing away at Barnet, and Swindon Down's relegation to League 2 was confirmed with a 3-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, with two games still to play.

The Robins replaced their manager in the Summer with Paolo Di Canio, and perhaps fortuitously for United, the away fixture was back at the start of the season in August, when a brace from James Constable saw United win 2-1, the Reds' only home defeat of the season.

PDC has had a thorough clear-out since then, including several of his own signings. His side have racked up ten consecutive league victories, their last defeat being to Torquay back in December, although they have ridden their luck against Shrewsbury who were denied a penalty at a crucial stage of the game.

United have seen just one defeat in 13, however seven draws are reflected in the relative league positions, the Reds top, and United in seventh.

The last home fixture against the team from down the A420 was back in December 2002 in the FA Cup, United winning 1-0 under Ian Atkins, with Jefferson Louis scoring the solitary goal. J-Lo is still plying his trade, now onto his 25th club at Lincoln City.

United Team news
Wayne Brown has been on the bench for the last two games, and although Ryan Clarke has been ever present in the league, on occasion he seems to be carrying a slight injury, so this is perhaps a sensible precaution.

Jake Wright missed the Macclesfield game with a back injury, his only missed game of the season apart from his sending off at Barnet and subsequent suspension. Harry Worley fitted straight back into defence, after almost 12 whole games on the bench.

Liam Davis seemed to be struggling at the end of the Macclesfield game, but hopefully will be fit for Saturday.

Peter Leven has been declared unfit in midweek with a shoulder injury, and Adam Chapman has been recalled from Newport County as cover, although Chris Wilder has several midfield options available with Whing, Holmes, Hall, Heslop, and Wilson. Paul McLaren has barely played since the end of November, although he has been on the bench for five games.

Up front, PDC's tormentor in chief, James Constable is likely to start, with Oli Johnson and Scott Rendell the two remaining forwards, Kerrouche being unavailable due to his loan from the Robins, Potter out for the season, JPP presumably still out with a hamstring. Tyrone Marsh has been impressing for the youth team, but it will be a step up to be picked for this derby match.

Robins news
This time around, PDC has not announced this match to be a Cup Final, whether it be World Cup or Champions League, but in a recent interview said that we [Swindon] were the only team 'with the bollocks to say these things' when questioned about calling themselves the self proclaimed champions, and that Steve Evans had been 'licking my ass' before the recent Crawley match, and that he didn't deserve any compliments in return – which is difficult to disagree with.

At the start of the season, PDC had wanted to sign James Constable, and tried again in the January transfer window without success, and now claims that he would never want him anyway.

Matt Ritchie is their league top scorer with nine, and has ten assists too. Alan Connell has scored eight, Paul Benson (previously of Dagenham & Redbridge before moving to Charlton) six, and out of favour and out on loan Mehdi Kerrouche six also.

Excluding the manager who has been sent to the stands three times, Raffaele De Vita is top of the disciplinary charts with 36 fouls, althought Alan McCormack has six yellows.

Other news
Port Vale today deny reports they are poised to enter administration.

Yemi Odubade has broken two metatarsals in training at Gateshead. [@player]Louis, Jefferson[/@player][@opponent]Swindon Town[/@opponent][@connection]Swindon Town[/@connection]