Oxford United travel up to Cambridgeshire to play Histon, for the first time, tomorrow night. [@opponent]histon[/@opponent][@connection]histon[/@connection]The game against the side from Impington will be the fourth time already this season that United will have been featured live on Setanta TV, but having yet to win on the box Oxford will be hoping for a change of fortunes. The Yellows will also be looking to reverse a slump in form that has seen them win just one of their last six matches, and drop down to ninth in the Conference, nine points adrift of leaders Stevenage Borough.

Jim Smith has indicated that he won't be making wholesale changes to the side that lost at home to Aldershot on Saturday, but with ongoing injuries to some key players his hands are tied in some areas. In defence there is still no sign of Chris Willmott or Phil Gilchrist getting close to fitness, but following his penalty faux pas on Saturday Arthur Gnohere is unlikely to feature, meaning that ROS Eddie Anaclet is likely to start, with Matt Day playing in central defence. Up front, Smith's criticism of Rob Duffy could mean that Marvin Robinson is ahead of him in the pecking order, and while Gary Twigg and Joel Ledgister remain in the treatment room, it is possible that Marv will start. Smith may choose to play Yemi Odubade alongside him from the start, although he has been more effective coming off the bench, so Paul Shaw may be called upon to play up front. In midfield there is more scope for variety, although Smith has been reluctant to play Luke Foster, Danny Rose, and Michael Standing recently, which is a shame as the latter two are United's most creative players, while Foster is arguably better in defence anyway.

This is Histon's first season at this level and, given their geographical and historical relationship to Cambridge United, it's a bit like seeing Kidlington mixing it with the pros. The side has remained part time, and given that they hosted Torquay United in a thrilling 5-4 defeat just yesterday, one would hope that United's allegedly superior fitness should see them through to victory. However, it seems to be more a mental than physical fatigue that is infecting the Oxford squad, and Histon have already shown that they're not in the Conference just to make up the numbers. However, given that United are set up to play more like an away side, and given Histon's defeat yesterday, Rage Online is vaguely of a mind that Oxford might win, let's say 2-0, for the sake of it.