United travel to Burton Albion this evening for their third game in a week. The fixture was switched to a Friday night because Burton share stewards with Derby County, who are also at home this weekend. Oxford, with a 100 percent record, currently lie second in the table, behind Weymouth on goal difference, but because this is the only fixture tonight even a point would see the Us top the Conference table, at least until tomorrow afternoon.

Jim Smith has fielded the same starting eleven for both Conference games so far, but this evening he will be forced to make a change as a result of Barry Quinn’s dismissal for a professional foul on Tuesday at Dagenham. Quinn’s red card means that he has to sit out tonight’s game, and with Chris Willmott serving the last game of his three-match ban, Smith’s defence will inevitably be a bit makeshift. There are a number of options available to the United manager. He could draft in first-year professional Andrew Gunn for his first start for the first team following some impressive performances for the reserves. Alternatively, John Dempster could move back from midfield to the defensive position that he occupied towards the end of last season. Smith could then bring Chris Hargreaves into the midfield or, in Rage Online’s preferred option, drop Andy Burgess into a deeper role and give Steve Basham his first start of the season up front, alongside Rob Duffy. Another option is for Smith to change the system to four at the back, but having spent all pre-season getting the squad used to the new formation this would be a retrograde step.

United and Burton have met before, in the dim distant past. They played each other in the Southern League in 1958/69, with both sides winning their away fixture. Albion, formed in 1950, are now managed by Nigel Clough, and are one of just four part-time outfits in the Conference. After two games they lie fifth in the table. Daryl Clare is their main dangerman, but at the Pirelli Stadium they will doubtless be a formidable foe. Rage Online is sticking out its neck, as usual, and predicting a 1-1 draw this evening. Unusually optimistic for us, but we’re getting into that gung-ho spirit (for now).