THERE are few certainties in League Two, particularly in this most unpredictable of seasons, but Oxford United will head to AFC Wimbledon tomorrow assured of strong backing.
The last of the 852 tickets in the away allocation for Kingsmeadow were snapped up days ago.
It was not surprising given the support United have received on their travels this season.
From Devon to Durham they have pounded the motorways, helping to boost the average away gate to 936.
It is significantly higher than the 515 who watched the team on the road last season and has an impact on the team, according to U’s skipper Jake Wright.
He said: “It’s brilliant and it just gives us such a lift when we see we’re going to have the fans and the noise there.
“We’ll be able to hear our fans over their fans. It’s constantly been like that this season.
“We’ve had some treks – Accrington, Hartlepool, Torquay – and they still turn up in their numbers, so our away fans have been different class.”
Their commitment has been richly rewarded, with United the only side in the division unbeaten on their travels.
For Wright, the catalyst was the 4-1 win at Fratton Park on the opening day of the season, watched by 2,500 away fans.
He said: “I think the Portsmouth game helped a lot, because everyone was excited to play there.
“It was a massive game, the biggest we could have got on the first day of the season.
“There was a brilliant atmosphere, no moaning going on like sometimes you get a small minority doing at home.
“The supporters went in their numbers and because we did so well there I think a few more fans thought ‘I liked what happened there’.
“It’s carried on and we’ve done so well away from home that they keep coming.”
UNITED’S AWAY GATES THIS SEASON
Portsmouth 2,500
Charlton (cup) 771
Torquay Utd 701
Burton Alb 592
Cheltenham 1,346
Hartlepool 348
Accrington 376
Wimbledon 852
Average 936
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