Peterborough United and their manager receive glowing tributes from Oxford United boss

Rivals managers Karl Robinson (left) and Darrem Ferguson.

Ferguson is Robinson’s most regular opponent, with tomorrow the 15th meeting of the pair on the touchline. Robinson has yet to beat Ferguson at London Road.

Robinson told the Oxford Mail: “I do put Darren in a different bracket to a lot of the other managers, just with the way he is as a person.

“He knows when the game kicks off we don’t need to like each other to respect each other during the 90 minutes.

James Henry (yellow) in action for Oxford.

“After the game he’s always someone I enjoy having a beer with.

“He doesn’t believe in all the antics that go on with trying to get a game done.”

Robinson has been assured his side will receive a warmer welcome at London Road than they did at Gillingham last weekend.

Changing facilities at Priestfield were switched at late notice, apparently due to a local spike in coronavirus, to effectively an area in the concourse under the Medway Stand.

Not only was it cold enough that players were told to change at the hotel, but the proximity to the outside world allowed some of head coach Karl Robinson’s half-time team talk to be recorded and shared on social media.

It was the latest in a series of issues on their away trips blamed on Covid, which began with a lack of running water at Lincoln City on the opening day of the season.

But Robinson said: “We’ve heard from Peterborough and we believe the changing facility is the best we’re going to go into.

“It doesn’t surprise me the way Darragh (MacAnthony, co-owner), Darren (Ferguson, manager) and Barry (Fry, director of football) are.

“The way they respect teams, it’s a football club that does everything right.”

OXFORD ODDS AND SODS

Opposition players

Winger James Henry makes his 500th career appearance tomorrow. The 31 year-old has been at Oxford since 2017 having previously played for Wolves and Millwall among others.

Striker Matty Taylor is one to watch. He joined Oxford on a permanent basis on a free transfer from Bristol City after a successful loan spell with the Us last season. Taylor has scored two goals so far this season.

PAST MEETINGS

Posh crushed promotion rivals Oxford 4-0 in this fixture last March thanks to two goals from Ivan Toney and strikes from Siriki Dembele and Josh Knight.

The final two goals arrived after Posh defender Nathan Thompson had been sent off.

Oxford have an excellent record at London Road though having won nine and lost just six of 16 previous matches in the Football League.

BIG MATCH ODDS

Posh are 19/20 to beat Oxford on Saturday with the visitors priced at 5/2 and the draw a 13/5 shot.

Posh are 33/1 to repeat last season’s 4-0 scoreline.

All odds from Sky Bet.

MAn in the middle

Veteran Carl Boyeson is the referee for Posh v Oxford.

He last took charge of Posh in last season’s 4-0 home win over Southend United after irritating Posh fans in games at Doncaster and Barnsley the previous season.