Analysis key for U's boss Clotet

LEFT-BACK RAIDS . . . Oxford United's Marvin Johnson (left)

OXFORD United's Pep Clotet has left nothing to chance ahead of making his managerial bow at Athletic tomorrow.

The Spanish coach, who served as assistant manager to Garry Monk at Leeds, believes his team will need to roll up their sleeves to get anything from SportsDirect.com Park.

Clotet (40) was at the ground to watch Athletic take on Girona last week and says he has picked up a few clues as to how to take on the challenge.

"We have analysed them. We've seen many games and know them well," said Clotet, who took on the reins at the Kassam Stadium after previous manager Michael Appleton, who guided Oxford to eighth place in their first season following promotion, joined Leicester City as assistant manager.

"We know how they play. It will be a very difficult game but we will try to use their weaknesses against them and try to avoid their strong points playing a part in the game.

"I think it will be a game where the physicality will play a part, because it's the first game of the season.

"They base a lot of their football on being strong and we base a lot of our football on physicality, which is about playing fast.

"The pitch looks in a good moment, so we will try to use that to our advantage. I think it's going to be a tough game."

For his part, Sheridan, who has only lost three times at home in 20 matches over the past two seasons, is respectful of the challenge Oxford will offer.

"They are a good team," Sheridan said.

"STRONG"

"I went to watch them at Leeds and they have a really good, strong squad. Whether I watched the team who will play against us, I don't know. They made eight or nine changes in that game and every player who came on looked strong and capable of starting.

"I'm sure their manager will be thinking Oxford are capable of getting out of the division. They have done well over the last couple of seasons and it will be a tough game for us."

Athletic have never lost a home match to Oxford and the U's have taken only one point from the last five league meetings between the clubs.