Oxford United visit Stafford Rangers tomorrow as they seek to extend their ten-game unbeaten run. In 1960/61 United went 18 Southern League games before tasting their first defeat, 4-2 at Worcester City. That run culminated in the 9-0 thrashing of Wisbech Town, just two weeks before christmas, and if the Us can keep the current run going for that length of time, well, that would be pretty cool. However, Conference teams are no slouches, and they will be vying with each other to be the first team to beat United. Oxford, meanwhile, will need to beware complacency, although it is difficult at the moment to see where that first defeat might come from.

Jim Smith will have to make at least one change to the side that won 1-0 at Crawley on Monday, as striker Marvin Robinson has a torn muscle that will keep him out for the next 10 weeks or so. Robert Duffy, who came on as a substitute for Steve Basham at the Broadfield Stadium in his first game for three weeks after injury, will almost certainly start in place of Robbo III. There are unlikely to be many other changes, although Phil Gilchrist may resume in defence after sitting out the match following a recurrence of his achilles problem. Goalscorer Matt Day may be the one who misses out if Gilly does return, although Rufus Brevett was struggling for much of the game and may be given a rest.

Stafford are one of the Conference’s few remaining part-time clubs, and so United’s superior fitness may again be the difference between the two sides. Rangers have drawn their two previous home games, against Burton and Rushden, but in their last two away fixtures they have shipped ten goals, losing 6-0 at Stevenage and then on Tuesday going down 4-0 at Northwich Victoria. However, they will be looking to exploit their home advantage against Oxford, who look set for another large away following. Former United striker and coach David Oldfield may be on the bench for Stafford, for whom he is also first-team coach. Oxford are still learning to cope with the unfamiliar sensation of going into games expecting to win, and it’s a difficult concept for Rage Online to get our head around too. We are minded to predict a 2-0 victory for the Lads for this one, but we’re uncertain as to the etiquette of so doing. Are we being too cheeky, or is our natural pessimism making us too guarded? What the hell…