Weather permitting, United visit Aldershot[@opponent]Aldershot[/@opponent] tomorrow, hoping to complete their first double of the season[@report]279[/@report]. Oxford haven't won away since beating Cambridge 3-0 on 20 October, and haven't won at all in the Conference since the 2-1 win over Tamworth on 25 November, a run of ten games that has seen United slip from having a healthy lead at the top of the table, to being eight points behind leaders Dagenham & Redbridge, who have a game in hand. It is still difficult to fathom why Oxford have had this slump, but there has been some evidence in recent games that they are starting to turn it around, helped by the six new players that arrived during the transfer deadline.

It is likely that Jim Smith will select at least two of those new players, if not more, tomorrow. Martin Foster and Michael Corcoran both had fine debuts against Cambridge last weekend, and should keep their places. Billy Turley has recovered from a calf strain and will probably replace Chris Tardif in goal, while Gavin Johnson will almost certainly play at left back in place of Rufus Brevett, who is suspended after picking up his fifth booking, against Rushden & Diamonds. Assuming that Smith keeps to 4-4-2, Barry Quinn will continue at right back, and Phil Gilchrist will partner Corcoran in the centre. Eddie Anaclet did enough on Saturday to retain his place on the right wing, and the good news is that Carl Pettefer is fit again after the injury that he received at Woking, and so should come in alongside Foster. On the left, Smith has to decide whether to stick with Danny Rose, who is good, but no left winger, or to bring Andy Burgess back. However, Burgess is also more effective in the middle, which immediately exposes a weakness in the Us' squad, with no dedicated left-sided midfielder. Up front, the partnership of Rob Duffy and Yemi Odubade will probably continue, although Kris Grebis didn't perform too badly for the reserves against Luton on Monday.

United don't have a particularly wonderful record against the Shots, and have only ever won once at the Recreation Ground, in the tinpot Football League Trophy. Indeed, Oxford's 2-0 win over Aldershot on 4 November was the first time United had beaten them in a game that had points at stake. The Yellows have featured a couple of former Shots, including Brian Talbot's purchase last season of Tim Sill[@player]Sills, Tim[/@player] during the January transfer window. Sills had been prolific for the Hampshire side, but his scoring touch deserted him at Minchery Farm and he only found the net once in 13 appearances. More successful was Oxford's purchase of Martin Foyle[@player]Foyle, Martin[/@player] for