OXFORD United’s huge away support tomorrow is worthy of a Premier League side, according to boss Michael Appleton.

Ticket sales for their first visit to Milton Keynes Dons went past the 3,250-mark yesterday.

With the exception of finals at Wembley, it will be the largest turnout by the Yellow Army since 4,000 travelled to West Ham United in 2010 for a Capital One Cup tie.

And with records of away attendances only going back about a decade, no-one is sure about the last time the U’s were backed by so many for a league game on the road, with some believing it could be in the 1990s.

Appleton is stunned by the response.

“It’s incredible,” the U’s head coach said. “Don’t underestimate how powerful it is to have that many away supporters.

“Some Premier League clubs cannot do that from a backing point of view.

“I can assure each and every single fan that goes to MK Dons, we won’t take it lightly that they’re prepared to come and support us.

“All I can say is we’ll give it everything and work as tirelessly as we did last Saturday (in the 2-0 win against Swindon) and hopefully get a similar result.

“I’m delighted and it can only work in our favour.”

The Kassam Stadium was sold out for the derby and for the United boss, the scale of tomorrow’s travelling contingent is another indication the club are heading in the right direction.

He said: “I think we have changed the philosophy of the club with the style and type of players we’ve brought here and almost brought a feelgood factor back to the place.

“For a long time, rightly or wrongly, I think there was a bit of doom and gloom about the club.

“All of a sudden people are talking about the club in a very positive manner. We want it to continue.”

l Big match preview: Pages 38-39