The U's will be looking to get their 2021 off to a good start with a win on the road at Salford City, after a false start against Tranmere Rovers last weekend with a late call off.
Manager - Richie Wellens
Top Scorer(s) - Ashley Hunter, Ian Henderson, James Wilson (6)
Last Result - Mansfield Town 2-1 Salford City 05/01/2021
Steve Ball's side are yet to kick-off in 2021 after having a very late call off last weekend, when the U's were due to play Tranmere Rovers at the JobServe Community Stadium.
They will be hoping they can start the New Year off with a win this weekend, when they take on perennial promotion favourites Salford City, although the Ammies are not in the position they would like to be at this stage of the season.
After their midweek defeat against Mansfield Town in the week, they sit just outside the play-off places, a point behind Morecambe who occupy the final spot in the top seven.
Speaking after their defeat to the Stags in midweek, Salford boss Richie Wellens wasn't happy with the performance from his team.
"It was nowhere near good enough. I just want to start seeing the things that got us the good results." - Richie Wellens
"I'd say they played well, they played the pitch well, they obviously know the parts of the pitch that were really poor but that's not excuse. We tried to play in front of them, we're telling them all you need to do is put the ball forward, second balls, win your individual battles and we didn't do any of that in the first half.
"Second half we huffed and puffed and gave it a go, and in the end we could have nicked a point but if I'm being honest, I still wouldn't have been pleased with that because of our first half performance, it was nowhere near good enough.
"These lads have been great for me, but I didn't see that performance coming."
Wellens was appointed Salford boss after the departure of Graham Alexander after just five games, and an unbeaten start. It may have been a suprise to some, but the Ammies' ambitions wait for no one, as they appointed the man who guided Swindon Town to League One last season as champions.
Salford play a similar formation to the U's, with one main striker up front - a man who some U's fans may recognise from a few years ago. Ian Henderson signed at the Peninsula Stadium from Rochdale in the summer and has hit six goals so far this season, as well as adding four assists he is one of the most dangerous players for this weekend's opponents.
Another dangerman for Wellens' side is former Manchester United striker James Wilson. The twenty-five-year-old made twenty appearances for the Red Devils between 2013 and 2015, scoring four goals. This season he has also scored six goals, being deployed just behind Henderson who is the lone striker.
Further back for the Ammies, twenty-year-old loanee from Manchester United Di'Shon Bernard carries a goal threat despite playing at centre back. He has two for the season in fifteen games, while his defendive partner Ashley Eastham brings over 300 games worth of experience, being an ever-present fixture in the Salford defence this season with twenty-five appearances so far.
The game will be played behind closed doors due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, but you can still keep up with the action with a £10 match pass from iFollow. Click HERE to get yours.