Match preview: Stevenage boss doesn’t expect his side to change the way they play to counter Michael Appleton’s Us

Teddy Sheringham says Stevenage will try to impose their game on Oxford United, but says he doesn’t expect his side to change they way they play.

Michael Appleton’s men are currently third in the League Two table, but lost last time out to Barnet.

It was put to Sheringham that Oxford may find it more difficult to play their own game against a more physical opponent, and the Boro boss was asked whether he would adopt a more direct way of playing this Saturday.

Sheringham, though, says he’ll stick to his own ideas about how he wants his own side to perform.

“I’ve seen Oxford. I’ve been very impressed by them. I know all about Michael Appleton and what he does with his football teams, and I’ve been very impressed with him,” Sheringham said.

“We’ll try to impose our game on them, [but] we can’t be anything that we’re not.

“We have certain positives in our game which we try to emphasise and implement when we’re playing, and we’ll stick with that.”

The Boro boss added: “This is a massive game for us and a real test. If we’re not on full throttle, then we’ll come unstuck like pretty much every game in Division Two. We have to be at our best to get something out of it.”

Brett Williams is suspended for tomorrow’s match after picking up five yellow cards, and the game may come too early for Adam Marriott following the striker’s long lay-off.

Sheringham also confirmed that the match will be the last of Armand Gnanduillet’s one-month loan deal from Chesterfield.

Asked about the injury front, and whether midfielder Dean Parrett would return from injury, Sheringham added: “Not sure yet. We’ve had a few injuries again this week, we’ve got so many at the club.

“We’ve had a couple earlier in the week and that makes it very disappointing. It’s hard to sort anything out on a team basis before the weekend but we’re still hopeful on a couple.”

Speaking about Williams’ suspension, the Stevenage boss said: “You wouldn’t believe that he’s got five yellow cards because I can’t remember him doing anything that would warrant a yellow.

“We knew he was on four yellows last week. He makes a challenge and I didn’t think there was much in it. How he got a yellow card for it I don’t know.

“The big centre half made the most of it, and when the card came he got up and was right as rain. Bit much, but that happens in modern football.”