United make the shortish trip to Nailsworth this evening, to play Forest Green Rovers. This Gloucestershire town must surely be the smallest locale in England to host a national league football team. This is the first time that the sides have met in proper competition, although Oxford did visit FGR prior to the start of the 1984/85 season for a friendly match. This is Rovers’ first season in their new stadium, named unimaginatively The New Lawn, following their exit from The Lawn and today’s match will undoubtedly see Forest Green’s largest attendance for a competitive fixture since they joined the Conference, nine seasons ago. United have sold all but a handful of their ticket allocation of 1,700, which is double Rovers’ average crowd this season.

Jim Smith is likely to name an unchanged team for the third consecutive match as Oxford try to extend their 13-game unbeaten run. No new injury problems were reported after United drew 2-2 at home to Southport on Tuesday, but the Bald Eagle may consider resting either Phil Gilchrist or Rufus Brevett, with Matt Day the most likely contender for a place if this happens.

Forest Green are on their own mini run of five games without defeat, but will go into today’s match without Jamie Pitman. Former U Paul Wanless could be on the bench after recovering from injury, while FRG also feature Matt Robinson, who is playing at the New Lawn on a non-contract basis for now. The weather tonight is likely to be pretty wet, but that could help United, who rely on a passing game. Hopefully Oxford will have learned the lessons from the Southport match, and will not be complacent going in to today’s game against one of the two teams below the Sandgrounders. We feel confident that the players will not want to feel the wrath of Smith for the second time in a week, and so we will predict a United victory. Probably 1-0 with a late goal, but they all count.

There are a couple of other significant Conference matches tonight, with Burton visiting Woking, and York hosting Aldershot. Third-placed Dagenham & Redbridge welcome Northwich tomorrow. Weymouth are fourth after they won 2-1 against Gravesend on Wednesday, and they’re in action again on Monday, when they visit Altrincham.