TIMMY Mallett hopes his beloved Oxford United will avoid a hammering at Accrington Stanley today, but the television personality has wished the Reds well in their bid for promotion to League One.

Mallett will be a special guest when Stanley host Oxford United this afternoon and the former presenter of Wacaday admits he is an itsy bitsy teeny weeny bit excited about his first trip to the Crown Ground.

The 55-year-old, famed for his foam mallet, hopes he will not have reason to declare ‘I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here’ by the final whistle, though, with Stanley bidding to secure a ninth straight home win after terrorising many a visiting team in recent weeks.

The Reds are currently eighth in League Two and bidding for a play-off spot, with Oxford three places and seven points further behind.

“A mate of mine invited me to this game a while back and now it’s turned out to be a really important game,” said Mallett, who is due to watch a friend’s band in Chorley tonight before visiting an exhibition of his artwork at the Vermilion Gallery in Knutsford tomorrow.

“Accrington are going for the play-offs and Oxford still have an outside chance.

“I’ve never been to Accrington but I am really looking forward to it.

“It’s a real football club with a romantic name. It’s a name that a lot of people know.

“And when your team does well your town does well, so I hope Accrington do well.

“I get to a lot of Oxford’s home games, although not as many of the away games, and my son hasn’t missed a game in a year, which is great.

“There is a great serendipity of course between Accrington and Oxford because it was Oxford who came into the league in place of Accrington 50 years ago and then when Oxford were relegated five years ago Accrington took their place.

“So I think this is the first time the two teams have ever played each other at Accrington.

“I’ll be hoping for a draw, he says tactfully!

“And I’ve heard they’ve got the best pies in the country, so I’m be loading the car up with them!”