ALEX MacDonald expects tonight’s clash with Swindon Town to be just as spicy as the league meeting last month.

The rivals clash in the Checkatrade Trophy just 24 days after the U’s won 2-0 at the Kassam Stadium in Sky Bet League One.

Swindon finished the game with nine men, with Lloyd Jones and goalkeeper Lawrence Vigoroux dismissed, the latter for reacting to a tackle from MacDonald.

It stretched United’s winning run in the derby to six matches.

With many supporters boycotting the game due to the inclusion of Category One academy sides, it means the U’s will be backed by hundreds rather than thousands at the County Ground tonight.

But despite the competition, MacDonald believes it will be just as highly-charged.

“You’d be silly not to think that, regardless of it being in the Checkatrade Trophy,” the winger said.

“It’s a derby game and nobody ever wants to be on the end of a loss in one.

“We’ll go in there fully focused on the game and really trying to put in a good performance, but more importantly get the win we hope we can get.

“We’re well aware it’s been six times on the bounce we’ve beaten them now.

“It’s something the fans are extremely proud of and we don’t want it to stop, especially tonight.”

Both sides won their opening games in Southern Group C and another victory this evening would book a place in the last 32 with a game to spare.

United’s players are well aware the restructured competition, formerly the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, is controversial with many supporters.

But goalkeeper Simon Eastwood will not be taking the game lightly.

He said: “Everyone is saying it’s not a great tournament – some people are bothered about it, some aren’t – but at the end of the day we’re playing the local rivals.

“Even if it was a pre-season game we’d want to go there and get a positive result.

“We’ve had a good start and you go into every game wanting to win.

“We’ll take it as any other game.”