Oxford United have been taken aback by Stevenage’s decision to relax the all-ticket rest-riction on away fans for the Boxing Day game at Broadhall Way.

And they say it was done without any consultation with them.

Fans can now buy tickets at the turnstiles for Sunday’s first clash between the two promoted rivals since they came up from the Blue Square Premier.

But there are concerns that more Oxford fans will want to go to the npower League Two game than can get into their section of the ground originally set aside for them.

United were allocated 1,392 tickets, and more than half of these had been sold by the middle of this week.

Oxford stress they still advise supporters to buy tickets from them before travelling.

In a statement, United added: “Should there be any tickets remaining, these will be delivered to Stevenage for sale on the day.

“All tickets which have not been collected from the Kassam Stadium ticket office by 1pm today will be taken to Stevenage for collection.

“This collection point will be manned by Oxford United staff. It will be situated at a reception beneath the South (away) stand close to the away turnstiles.

“Ticket collections will be available from 1.45pm until 2.45pm.”

United’s ticket office is open from 9.30am until 12noon today, and tickets can be bought online at oufctickets.co.uk up to midday today.

Stevenage, who remain hopeful that the game will go-ahead, have put out a plea for local volunteers to help clear the snow on the morning of the match.

United boss Chris Wilder is expected to stick close to the team that would have faced Shrewsbury last Saturday.

Striker Tom Craddock is suspended, so James Constable may start alongside Steve Maclean.

Stevenage will be without suspended duo Darius Charles and Michael Bostwick, while on-loan midfielder Josh Walker has been recalled by parent club Watford.

Former Oxford United defender Luke Foster, who joined Boro from Mansfield in May, will probably be among the home team’s subs, but Jon Ashton is set to start.

The game will be the last for Stevenage’s on-loan striker Chris Holroyd, who is set to return to parent club Brighton next week.

Stevenage: (probable) Day, Henry, Ashton, Roberts, Laird, Wilson, Mousinho, Long, Winn, Holroyd, Beardsley. Subs: Bayes, Foster, Bridges, Byrom, Odubade, May, Sinclair.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Batt, Worley, Futcher, Kinniburgh, Heslop, Wotton, Clist, Hall, Maclean, Constable, Potter, Tonkin, Eastwood, Green, Payne, Gaughan, Purkiss, Wright.