It’s the season’s penultimate fixture, and United’s last away game, up at Rochdale tomorrow. With United having nothing to play for, and Dale’s play-off bid effectively ended with their 0-0 draw at relegated Cambridge last weekend, this promises to be a low-key match, although both sides will be aiming for a top-half of the table finish to cap what, for United, has been a disappointing season.

Oxford take to the field still surrounded by uncertainty as to the future of their management team, and therefore also the out-of-contract players. One of whom, Steve Basham, will be hoping for a return to the side after missing the win over Southend through illness. Unfortunately for Bash his replacement, Craig Davies, scored in that game, and then added two more for the reserves in midweek, and so stands a decent chance of retaining his place, alongside Tommy Mooney up front. Another possible change is at the back, where Uruguayan hard man Mateo Corbo is available after missing the Southend game through suspension. It is unlikely, though, that Horacio Rodriguez would replace either Jon Ashton or Paul Wanless, both of whom played well enough against the former league leaders last Saturday. With neither of the Diaz brothers turning out for the reserves on Wednesday, as advertised, it will be interesting to see whether Emiliano of that ilk will retain his place in the squad, or was their absence evidence of a more worrying scenario unfolding behind the scenes?

Rochdale will welcome back leading scorer Grant Holt, who has missed the last three games through suspension. They also have a midfielder called Paul Tait, although unfortunately for United it’s not that one. Oxford have already played Dale twice this season, and lost both games, 1-0 at home in the league and 2-1 at Spotland in the FA Cup. However, Oxford did win the corresponding fixture 2-1 last season, whatever that means. In our usual pessimistic fashion we’ll predict a 2-1 defeat for the lads, therefore ensuring that it either will or won’t happen.