United travel to Grays Athletic tonight, full of confidence after they won 3-1 at Altrincham on Saturday.[@opponent]Grays Athletic[/@opponent][@connection]Grays Athletic[/@connection] Last season the sides drew 2-2 in Essex, after Rob Duffy had given the Us an early lead.[@report]288[/@report] That game occurred during United's seemingly endless winless streak, and with both teams having several changes of personnel, the only thing that can be read into it is that it will not be such an easy game as Altrincham, and that wasn't easy.

Jim Smith had several changes forced onto him for Saturday's match, and it is unclear yet whether or not any of the injuries have cleared up. Chris Tardif made a couple of excellent saves, and after his early nerves cleared up he looked confident, and couldn't be blamed in any way for Altrincham's goal. However, Billy Turley is close to recovery from his thigh strain, and could replace Tardif. Eddie Anaclet missed Saturday's match with a dead leg, and this may still not have recovered, so Matt Day will stand by to play at right wingback again, with Arthur Gnohere looking strong in the centre of defence. Both Rob Duffy and Paul Shaw came off with knocks at Moss Lane, but both will be fit to start tonight. It is in midfield where Smith has most potential to change things, and with Eddie Hutchinson feeling the effects of his recent injury on Saturday, it's possible that Smith may choose to start with Carl Pettefer or Michael Standing instead. His post-match comments about Danny Rose lead one to believe that he will be lucky with a place on the bench.

Grays have had a stuttering start to the season, and have lost their last two home games. On Saturday they went down 1-0 to Forest Green Rovers, and had Ernie Cooksey sent off, meaning he will miss tonight's game. The attendance at that game was just 746. Grays do have potential to score tonight, as they feature former United defender Jon Ashton, but Rage Online is quietly (if incorrectly) confident that Oxford can win their second game on the trot, possibly by a narrow 1-0 margin.

Following last night's games, Oxford dropped one place to sixth. Stevenage Borough are the new Conference leaders, beating Stafford Rangers 3-0 at Broadhall Way, after Stafford had Matthew Hazley sent off just before half time, with the game goalless. Rangers remain second from bottom. In the other match, Torquay United lost for the first time this season, going down 3-1 at Burton Albion. Torquay are third while Burton went above Oxford into fourth place. Lee Mansell was hilariously sent off for the Gulls for stamping on a Burton player after mistiming a tackle. Tonight's other game in the Conference is Halifax v Woking.