Tonight sees one of Oxford United's toughest games so far, as Torquay United visit Grenoble Road (fog permitting). The Gulls, relegated from the Fourth Division last season, have been among the early leaders of the Conference, and it was only on Tuesday, when Torquay didn't have a game, that they were knocked off the top of the table.[@opponent]Torquay United[/@opponent][@connection]Torquay United[/@connection] At Oxford, the pressure is on following their dismal 3-1 defeat at Droylsden last Saturday. Like that match, tonight's game is live on Setanta, a forum on which United have yet to win. This week both chairman Nick Merry and manager Jim Smith issued statements of intent to turn around the club's fortunes on the pitch, and so it will be interesting to see how this translates into action in tonight's crucial fixture.

Smith has hinted in interviews that he may look at changing the formation, and talk at the club is that United could line up playing 4-4-2 tonight. Central defender Arthur Gnohere has gone, now that both Chris Willmott and Phil Gilchrist are fit again, although it's unlikely that the genial French giant will be missed on the pitch. If the Us do play four at the back then we envisage a central pairing of Mickey Corcoran and Willmott, with Barry Quinn at right back, and possibly Matt Day at left back. In midfield, with two wide men injured (Eddie Anaclet and Joel Ledgister), we would not be surprised (nor disheartened) to see Carl Pettefer wide right, where he used to play for Southend, and Alex Jeannin on the opposite flank, especially given Danny Rose's injury. It would be nice to see Michael Standing as the creative component of a midfield four, probably alongside Eddie Hutchinson to provide the muscle. Alternatively, Paul Shaw has shown that he has an eye for a killer pass, so may be played there instead. Up front, with Rob Duffy unavailable, it's possible that new signing Jordan Rhodes, who has been banging in the goals for Ipswich Town's reserves and who joined United yesterday on a one-month loan deal, could be handed an immediate start, probably alongside Gary Twigg, with Yemi Odubade on the bench. Failing that, expect Yemi to start with Rhodes as substitute. All of this is, of course, idle speculation, and it may well be that no formation changes will be made. Who knows?

Torquay, like a number of other Conference clubs, are actually Oxford United Old Boys in disguise (although not a very good disguise, except they win quite a lot). They include former Supporters Player of the Season Lee Mansell (although quite how he won that award remains a mystery), and fellow midfielder Chris Hargreaves, while the spectacularly unsuccessful Tim Sills plays up front, and Chris Zebroski, who joined United on loan from Millwall for the latter stages of last season, signed on loan for the Gulls until January, despite Smith's attempts to get him back to Minchery Farm. On Saturday, Torquay lost 2-1 at Ebbsfleet United, although they had won their previous five games, including scoring five at Aggborough when they beat Kidderminster Harriers 5-2. The only game in which they have failed to score is the opening match of the season, when they were held to a 0-0 draw at Plainmoor by Grays Athletic. Rage Online is worryingly optimistic about tonight's game, and given that we correctly predicted a two-goal defeat at Droylsden, you should heed our prediction of a 3-2 home win. Heed it, but don't necessarily believe it.

Tuesday's results saw Aldershot return to the top of the table, following their 2-0 win over Ebbsfleet United. Stevenage Borough also climbed above Torquay, despite being held to a 1-1 home draw by Woking. Fourth-placed Burton Albion were also surprisingly held to a draw, 0-0 at fourth-bottom Altrincham, but Cambridge United consolidated their fifth place by beating Rushden & Diamonds 1-0, in another Oxford United Old Boys clash. Forest Green Rovers went sixth after demolishing bottom side Northwich Victoria 4-1, while Exeter City also scored four, beating bully boys Salisbury City 4-2, helped by a Richard Logan hattrick.

It was confirmed yesterday that Oxford remain in the top half of the table, as Crawley Town lost their appeal against their six-point deduction, so they remain in the bottom half, despite beating ninth-placed Histon 1-0. Kidderminster moved up to eighth, four points clear of Oxford, after their 1-0 win over Halifax. Droylsden were brought back down to earth following their vanquishing of the Mighty Yellows by losing 3-0 at home to Farsley Celtic, whom United visit on Sunday. This leaves the Bloods second from bottom, while Farsley remain fifth from bottom. One relegation battle saw York City gain a rare victory, beating third-bottom Stafford Rangers 2-0, leaving the Minstermen 19th, but five points above the drop zone, level with Farsley. Tuesday's other game was a 2-0 win for Weymouth at Grays, with Jefferson Louis scoring the second goal.