Oxford United visit Edgar Street tomorrow to take on Hereford United in a League game for the first time since Pele played his last game as a professional footballer, 27 days before the Sex Pistols released Never Mind the Bollocks. Since that time United have experienced both the highs and the lows of the beautiful game, and Hereford have experienced the lows. The clubs have met since, in the League Cup first round, with United coming out on top in each of the last three meetings. The clubs did meet regularly in the Southern League, playing every season that the Us were in that competition, when honours were much more even.

Chris Wilder will be pleased that Jake Wright looks likely to be fit to play, following his substitution during the 4-0 win over Morecambe last week after he suffered a back spasm. With everyone else bar Damian Batt and Rhys Day fit to play, the likelihood is that United will be unchanged from the weekend, while good displays from a number of players in the reserves' 2-0 win at Ipswich means that there should be plenty of options on the bench.

Hereford have a few problems, having failed to score in any competition since their opening day 1-0 win at Crewe Alexandra. Last week they were soundly beaten 3-0 at Burton Albion, having gone down 1-0 to Rotherham United at Edgar Street the previous week. They will be without Ryan Valentine, who had a trial with United in April 2002, due to illness, while there are doubts over Dan Connor, Michael Townsend, and Dominik Werling. The Bulls are currently fifth from bottom of the League, with a goal difference of -7.

Among those who have played for both clubs, Ricky George featured in Hereford