While manager Chris Wilder is looking for a vastly improved performance from Oxford United on Saturday, they could have had easier opponents than Kettering Town.

The Northamptonshire outfit, who drew 1-1 with the U’s at Rockingham Road at the start of the season, have been outstanding on their travels.

Their 12-2-4 away record in the league this season is not just the best in the Confer-ence, it’s one of the best in the country.

Take their recent run: since losing 2-0 at Stevenage on January 23, they won 2-0 at Gateshead, 2-0 at Barrow, 3-1 at Tamworth and then drew 0-0 at Rushden.

Former U’s defender John Dempster and fellow centre back Ian Roper have made them rock-solid away, with 13 goals conceded in 18 games.

They won 1-0 at Luton in December, and in the FA Cup they have chalked up similar 1-0 victories away from home at Redditch then at League One Hartlepool, before coming unstuck at Leeds.

“They’ve done very well. Their away record is superb, so that’s something we’ve got to be wary of,” Wilder said.

“I’ve watched them a couple of times so that we know what to expect.

“We do our homework on the opposition, we inform the players on what they’re likely to come up against, but really Saturday’s about what we produce, and what our reaction is to defeat.”

Tuesday’s 2-1 loss at home Hayes & Yeading hit hard.

“It was certainly a very long day for me on Wednesday, and I was really looking forward to coming in yesterday to work with them,” said the manager.

“They knew, when they walked away from the game on Tuesday, that that wasn’t good enough, in every aspect.

“We’d prepared well. We had a game plan that went out the window because people weren’t prepared to do what they were asked to do.

“I made a change early on,” he added.

“We were bold in terms of the changes we made with changing our shape and putting another forward on, and then we conceded a killer second goal just before half-time that really summed us up.

“The players, when they stepped over that white line, didn’t pay the opposition any sort of respect whatsoever.”

Wilder seems set to make at least two or three changes.

Chris Hargreaves didn’t look right, whether it is all the travelling he has been doing from south Devon, or whether he is carrying an injury, and it’s understood he has been given a few days to get himself fit and better.

At least Sam Deering showed some spark in the second half.

The 19-year-old signed a new contract this week which, as well as no doubt greatly improving the money he is on, provides Oxford United with some protection should any club want to take him.

“I’m very happy to sign a new deal for two and a bit years,” Deering said.

“Everyone who’s under contract plays to try and get another contract, and that’s what I’ve been doing.

“I’ve put everything in this season after coming back from that [injury] last Christmas, and obviously the gaffer and coaches have seen I’ve done that.”

Deering added: “I don’t look at it as money or anything like that. I just look at it as getting my head down and playing.”

Ketering’s side includes two familiar faces.

As well as Dempster, who a fortnight ago made his 150th appearance for the Poppies, they have Marcus Kelly on the left of midfield.

Kelly, who joined United last summer from Rushden, didn’t have the best of times at Oxford, failing to hold down a regular place, but he will be eager to prove a point.