Preview: Aldershot Town Vs Oxford United

While it may be a little remiss to describe a Fourth Round tie in the Setanta Shield as "a nothing match", you only need to look back twelve months to see how quickly fortunes can change and it's then that you realise that unless you enjoy the "here and now", you may as well just pack it all in.

This time last year, our visitors were making concerted efforts to break Conference league attendance record while flying high at the top of the Conference, and while just over 11000 die-hard supporters packed into the Kassam Stadium on Boxing Day last, those events will count for nothing as the U's visit the Recreation Ground as a season of discontent begins to take grip.

Down to thirteenth in the Conference, Tuesday evenings 1-0 FA Trophy defeat away against Tonbridge Angels may have been regarded by supporters as the lowest point in the clubs history, however manager Darren Patterson can ill-afford to spend time dwelling on the past. Speaking to local media ahead of Saturday's clash he told reporters, "I can't think of a better game actually, after the disappointment of Tuesday, than playing the top of the league away, with the chance of winning and gaining some confidence before the important Christmas and New Year period."

Confident words they may be, however Patterson has to contend with an injury ravished side and may well struggle to comply with the strict rules regarding selection where no fewer than ten of the sixteen players named on the team-sheet who must have taken part in the clubs previous two Conference fixtures - he may only be able to call upon nine.

With Eddie Anaclet and Chris Willmott both already sidelined, first choice keeper Billy Turley is nursing a shoulder injury meaning he will face a late fitness test, while winger Phil Ledgister has not trained all week due to a thigh injury.

Danny Rose missed Tuesday's defeat at Tonbridge as a precaution and is expected to be available having been absent for two months with a hamstring injury and seventeen-year-old striker Matt Taylor has been called upon to help bolster numbers.

Gary Waddock will be missing Ryan Williams and Ryan Scott who continue to recuperate following their long term injuries, while Rob Gier is suspended having picked up his fifth yellow card in last Saturday's 5-0 victory against Hayes & Yeading.

Shots from: Bull, Jaimez-Ruiz, Smith, Straker, Newman, Day, Charles, Soares, Chalmers, John Grant, Elvins, Dixon, Hylton, Davies, Hudson, Winfield, Harding, Gier, Milletti, Huggins, Joel Grant, Simmonds and Koo-Boothe.

Oxford from: Turley, Warrell, Corcoran, Quinn, Pettefer, Hutchinson, Duffy, Odubade, Weedon, Foster, Trainer, Ledgister, Jeannin, Day, Twigg, Green, Barnes, Collins, Posey, Taylor, Fisher, Benjamin and Clarke.

Shots - John Grant - 15

Oxford - Odubade - 7

There are no current players in either squad who have played for the opposition.

There have been a total of three matches between the two clubs since the 2006/07 season.

In those three games honours have been evenly split with each side winning, drawing and losing once. The Shots have scored a total of four goals (an average of 1.33 goals per game) while Oxford have scored four (an average of 1.67 goals per game.)

At the Recreation Ground there has been just one game which was drawn 1-1.

Oxfords record win against The Shots was a 2-0 victory at the Kassam Stadium last season.

The Shots record win against Oxford was this seasons 3-2 victory also at the Kassam Stadium.

The last time the two sides met was earlier this season at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday 15^th September 2007. The match ended in a 3-2 Shots victory with John Grant scoring twice and Lewis Chalmers getting the third.

Shots side: Nikki Bull, Rob Gier, Anthony Charles (Kirk Hudson), Dave Winfield, Anthony Straker, Louie Soares, Lewis Chalmers, Scott Davies, Ben Harding, Rob Elvins (Ricky Newman), John Grant.

Substitutes unused: Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz, Danny Hylton, Joel Grant.

BBC SCR are expected to be running full internet coverage of the match with post match interviews broadcast if there is time afterwards.

With Oxford at a low ebb and struggling for a full strength side, there should be little to fear from their opposition. The Shots 3-2 victory at the Kassam Stadium earlier in the season was far more comfortable than the score-line suggests and with Waddock being able to draw from a confident and strong squad, they should have enough to reach the next round. Shots win.

Opposition Websites: