Oxford United face their second away game in three days tomorrow, when they visit the Pirelli Stadium to take on Burton Albion.[@opponent]Burton Albion[/@opponent] [@connection]Burton Albion[/@connection][@report]260[/@report] The Us will be desperate to bounce back from their last-minute defeat at Cambridge on Thursday evening, and will be happy for a repeat of last season's scoreline, when United won 2-1, thanks to two Rob Duffy strikes, after being a Daryl Clare goal down at half time. That match, coincidentally, was also United's second away game of the season.

Jim Smith will still be without long-term injury victims Phil Gilchrist and Chris Willmott, but Michael Standing should have recovered from his calf strain and is likely to start in midfield. Smith has said that a lot of the players who didn't feature on Thursday are likely to appear on Sunday, so Luke Foster, Michael Corcoran, Joel Ledgister, and new signing Danny Rose may all feature, as may Yemi Odubade, who only played the second half at the Abbey Stadium.

Burton are suffering something of a selection crisis, especially in defence. Darren Stride, their skipper, new signing Tony James, and Ryan Austin are all out injured, while Aaron Webster is suspended. Webster was dismissed in the Brewers' last game, a 4-3 win over York City that was achieved after being 3-1 down and reduced to ten players. Burton's first game of the season was a 2-2 draw at newly promoted Histon, thanks to a last-minute goal from Clare. Unfortunately, United's first two performances of the season have done little to increase activity on Rage Online's optimism meter, and so we are minded to predict a second consecutive defeat, 2-1 to the home side.

Following today's Conference results, Torquay United are the new leaders. They won 3-1 at Northwich Victoria, with Tim Sills scoring their opening goal. Newcomers Salisbury City are second thanks to their impressive 4-1 win over Crawley Town, who are second from bottom with no points. Stevenage Borough are fourth, behind Exeter City, who didn't play today, after they beat Weymouth 3-0 at Broadhall Way, while Forest Green Rovers beat Altrincham 3-1 to move up to fifth place.

Stafford Rangers, who visit Oxford next Saturday, are bottom of the Conference, still without a point, after they lost 1-0 at home to Woking. The day's biggest scorers were Grays Athletic, who beat Kidderminster Harriers 5-1, thanks to a Danny Kedwell hat trick. Aldershot came from a goal down to beat Droylsden 3-1, while Ebbsfleet United won 1-0 at Rushden & Diamonds. Today's only other game was a goalless draw between Halifax and Histon.