United visit Altrincham[@opponent]Altrincham[/@opponent] tomorrow as they bid to rescue the season that started so promisingly. Despite still being second in the table, the teams below Oxford are quickly catching them up, while Dagenham & Redbridge have now built up an almost unassailable lead following the Us' two recent home defeats.[@connection]Altrincham[/@connection] Alty's visit to Oxford on 14 October was a controversial one, the visitors being awarded a penalty out of thin air to rescue a point with a 1-1 draw, after Matt Day's long-range strike seemed to have given United the three points[@report]281[/@report]. It is imperative for United's bid to remain in the play-off places that they win tomorrow.

Jim Smith will have to make at least one change to the side that lost 1-0 to Kidderminster on Tuesday night. Leading scorer Rob Duffy is suspended after picking up his tenth booking against Forest Green Rovers last Saturday, and with Latvian striker Kristaps Grebis having his contract cancelled (allegedly by mutual consent) yesterday and Steve Basham out for the rest of the season, this leaves Oxford's striking options quite limited, especially as Marvin Robinson is one of those strikers. Yemi Odubade is almost certain to start up front, probably alongside Robinson, but one would hope that Billy Beechers will get a place on the bench, at the very least. In defence, Barry Quinn should have recovered from his hamstring injury, and so should feature at right back, allowing Michael Corcoran to return to the centre of defence, where he is much more effective, and Quinny should also resume throw-in duties, following Corcoran's somewhat embarrassing antics last Tuesday. Quinn's return will probably mean that Luke Foster will drop to the bench, despite his promising debut on Tuesday. With Yemi likely to move up front, one would assume (or at least, hope) that Eddie Anaclet will resume his right-wing functions. The rest of the midfield is something of a free-for-all, as either Andy Burgess or Danny Rose could play wide left, and either Rose, Chris Hargreaves, Carl Pettefer, and Martin Foster could play in the centre. If Foster plays, this will be his last appearance before he is suspended for two games.

Altrincham are currently 17th in the Conference, just three points above 21st-placed Grays Athletic, who have a game in hand. They are on a bit of a run, having won their last three matches, most recently winning 1-0 at Morecambe, and their last home game was a 5-0 drubbing of Cambridge United. All this makes Rage Online somewhat nervous about tomorrow's meeting, given Oxford's almost diametrically opposite run of form, and we are therefore minded to predict another 1-1 draw between the sides, as Oxford visit Moss Lane for the first time.

Leaders Dagenham have a tricky home game against Forest Green Rovers (at least it would be tricky for Oxford). Third-placed York City, just one point behind the Yellows, could overtake United as they face second-bottom St Albans at KitKat Crescent. Fourth-placed Burton Albion visit Gravesend & Northfleet, who are eighth but with games in hand, while Morecambe, who fill the bottom play-off spot, visit Exeter City, just one place beneath them.