Oxford United welcome Altrincham to the United Stadium tomorrow, with the Us hoping to break a couple of records. Oxford’s 0-0 draw at Kidderminster on Tuesday allowed United to equal both the club’s best start to a season, set by Headington United at in the 1959/60 season, and the Conference’s best start to a season, set by Kettering Town in 1990/91. Both these records, of 15 games unbeaten, will tumble should the Yellows remain undefeated against the side from Manchestah.

Jim Smith will have to make at least one alteration to the side that dropped two points at Aggborough, with Chris Willmott suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season at Forest Green Rovers. The most likely formula will see Matt Day coming in as a straight replacement, although there is an option to give a debut to Andy Gunn should Day be required to cover for Rufus Brevett, who yesterday signed a contract to keep him at Oxford for the rest of the season. Andy Burgess picked up an injury at Kidderminster, but he should be available for tomorrow’s game. If not, Eddie Hutchinson is the most likely replacement, although Smith might decide to play Steve Basham a bit deeper and start with Yemi Odubade up front.

Altrincham are currently 18th in the Conference, and haven’t won away from home yet. They are also suffering from a number of injuries, and the part-timers are unlikely to be able to field a very strong side. United have never played Alty before, and following Oxford’s poor showing at Kidderminster, and the rocket given to leading scorer Rob Duffy by Smith, United should be looking to win this game. Surprisingly, Rage Online actually thinks that this might happen, and we’re even going so far as to predict a 2-0 win for the Us. Of course, all the omens point to the opposite result, but we’re not superstitious around these parts (touch wood).

Tomorrow’s other games see second-placed Dagenham visit Stevenage, for what will hopefully be a tough test for the Daggers, and one that could see them drop a couple of points. Third-placed Weymouth should be able to maintain their challenge with the visit of Southport, while York visit St Albans City, from where they should pick up all three points. Exeter City are fifth, but they may lose ground after their trip to Morecambe, while 6th-placed Woking travel to Stafford, which could be a difficult match for both sides. At the bottom of the table, Forest Green Rovers are unlikely to get anything from their trip to Grays Athletic, despite the Essex side’s recent poor run, while Crawley will be fortunate if they come away with anything more than a point from their trip to Cambridge.