Oxford United are up for the Cup tomorrow, as they travel abroad to Merthyr Tydfil for the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.[@opponent]Merthyr Tydfil[/@opponent] [@connection]Merthyr Tydfil[/@connection] United are old adversaries of the Martyrs from their Southern League days, but this is the first time they have met in a competitive game since then. Last season at this stage of the competition, United went to Dagenham & Redbridge and won 1-0, thanks to Rob Duffy scoring a penalty and Billy Turley saving one. However, United were still on their long unbeaten run at the time and confidence was high, and there was little indication that Dagenham would overtake United and win the Conference. The last time that United failed to reach the first round of the FA Cup was in 1957, when they lost 2-0 at home to Margate, but in those days the club began the competition in the preliminary round, and so had already won four ties to reach that stage.

Jim Smith will be forced to make at least one change to the side that failed to beat Woking last Saturday, as Alex Jeannin received his fifth booking of the season and so faces a one-game suspension. Matt Day, who would have been Jeannin's natural replacement, is suffering from an abdominal strain, and so former ROS Ben Weedon is on standby to make his first start for United in almost two years. Eddie Hutchinson is also doubtful for the game, with a back injury, and it's quite possible that Danny Rose might be called in to play wide left, or Michael Standing could start behind the front two of Yemi Odubade and Jordan Rhodes.

Merthyr haven't had the best start to their season in the Southern League Premier, where they are currently fifth from bottom, one place below Banbury United. They have yet to win away, and last weekend were hammered 3-0 by Chippenham Town in the FA Trophy first round. Even Banbury achieved a 1-1 draw at Penydarren Park, so Rage Online is vaguely confident that Oxford should advance into the first round. United should be up for this game, as relief from their traumatic league performances as much as the opportunity to progress in the cup, and so we predict a 3-0 win to the Yellows.

One team who has advanced to the first round of the Cup is United's youth side, who beat Reading Town 3-1 last night in Tilehurst to earn themselves a home tie against AFC Bournemouth (date to be confirmed, but possibly 7 November, which is when the majority of first-round ties are being played). Meanwhile United are giving a trial to striker Carl Priso, formerly with Torquay United and before then with German side Cheminitz. Oxford are also being linked with Didcot Town goalkeeper Michael Watkins, who was very impressive in the sides' pre-season friendly. However, Watkins is also being sought by Wycombe Wanderers, so we'll have to wait and see.