Southport are lined up to be Oxford’s latest victims when they visit the United Stadium later this evening. Being a midweek game, and with the Woolybacks likely to bring only a very small following, tonight’s attendance is unlikely to set any records, but there should still be a large, vociferous following as United try to make it 13 games unbeaten, and stretch even further their eight-point gap at the top of the Conference.

Jim Smith, who won his second successive Manager of the Month award, is unlikely to make any changes to the side that did so well against York City on Saturday, provided everyone came through fully fit. Eddie Hutchinson did well enough to keep his place, and there isn’t anyone else whose place looks to be under threat, which is a shame for Matt Day.

Southport are coached by former United striker Johnny Lager, and of course they are also the team from whom Mark Wright came to Oxford. They are currently in 22nd place (which would be 23rd if Crawley hadn’t had ten points deducted at the start of the season), and have won just one away game, 1-0 at Burton Albion. On Saturday they lost 1-0 at home to Exeter City. It has to be said that the Sandgrounders (no, we don’t know what it means either) aren’t very good, and even Rage Online is anticipating an Oxford win. These are usually the sorts of game that come up and bite us on the bum, but we are confident that Jim Smith will not allow the players to get complacent, and so we are going to predict another 2-0 win for the Yellows. And yes, we know it’s a Tuesday night.

Other Conference games this evening see second-placed Dagenham & Redbridge park and ride to Stafford Rangers, while Aldershot host Tamworth. Woking go to Stevenage, and York visit Northwich Victoria. Third-placed Weymouth host Gravesend tomorrow night. United’s opponents on Friday, Forest Green Rovers, visit St Albans.