Oxford United's win still rankles with Northampton boss (From Bicester Advertiser)

Oxford United's win still rankles with Northampton boss

9:10am Friday 22nd March 2013 in Sport By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

AIDY Boothroyd is keen to make up for a defeat to Oxford United in November which still rankles with the Northampton Town boss.

The Cobblers’ good form was halted by a 2-1 defeat to the U’s, but the former Watford manager felt goals from James Constable and Jon-Paul Pittman were offside.

Boothroyd is looking forward to having a chance to settle the score tomorrow.

“The Oxford game is going to be a very good game, they’ve come into a bit of form lately and Chris (Wilder) is a good manager,” he said.

“We have a bit of a rivalry with them and we certainly feel we owe them one because the two goals they scored in the game at their place shouldn’t have been given.

“That’s gone now, it’s finished and we need to make sure we get something against them.”

The home side are likely to include Chris Hackett, but any fondness he has for Oxford United will be put to one side.

The winger spent seven years with the U’s up to 2006 and retains a soft spot for the club which gave him a professional debut.

But at Sixfields tomorrow all sentimentality will be put to one side as he aims to help a inflict a costly defeat on United which would keep Town in the race for automatic promotion.

“(Oxford)’s where I started my career and it’s where I’m from but it’s just another game of football for me,” he told the club’s website.

“We’re in a promotion chase now and every game is important to us.

“All of that goes out of the window and the three points become the most important thing.

“I’ve got happy memories of my time there and it’s a good club where I enjoyed my time.

“But Saturday is all about winning the game.”