United entertain Forest Green Rovers[@opponent]Forest Green Rovers[/@opponent] at Grenoble Road tomorrow as they attempt to further diminish the gap between them and Dagenham & Redbridge. The Us won 5-1 in the reverse fixture in Gloucestershire on 6 October[@report]274[/@report] and, having won their last four matches, would be hopeful of a repeat at home. If United do win, they will cut Dagenham's lead to five points, as the Conference leaders are without a game.[@connection]Forest Green Rovers[/@connection]

Following the midweek win at Southport, Jim Smith has an extra couple of injury worries to contend with. Although skipper Phil Gilchrist should be fit, despite limping off early in the first half, both Barry Quinn and fellow defender Matt Day suffered pulled hamstrings and Quinn is likely to miss out. Rob Duffy also received a knock and, in addition, United have discovered that Steve Basham will be out for the remainder of the season after his injury at Exeter City on New Year's Day, and therefore Oxford's longest-serving player may well have played his final game for the club. Although Luke Foster or Andy Gunn can play in defence, it is also possible that Smith may play Eddie Anaclet at right back and recall Carl Pettefer or Chris Hargreaves to the midfield. This would leave Yemi Odubade up front, and if Duffy can't play then Marvin Robinson is his most-likely partner, with Kristap Grebis still injured.

Forest Green Rovers have drawn their last two away games, but have only won once away all season, 2-1 at Southport on 27 January. Former United defender Matt Robinson left Rovers to become a policeman shortly after United's visit, while popular midfielder Paul Wanless rarely features for FGR, having played only seven times this season, most recently in their 3-1 defeat at Crawley on 3 February. Although Forest Green are 15th in the table, they are only five points above the relegation zone and will be fighting to preserve their Conference status, so the Us can't relax or take anything for granted. Despite this, Rage Online is confident that United can extend their winning run to five games, for the first time since December 2002 (and that run included two FA Cup games, including the 1-0 win over Swindon). We don't want to fall victim to the overconfidence bug, and so we will restrict our prediction to a modest 3-0. Ahem.

Dagenham should have been playing Northwich Victoria tomorrow, but the Vics are involved in FA Trophy action at United's next opponents, Kidderminster, so they will have a game in hand over United, which makes an Oxford victory imperative. Third-placed York City have a difficult trip to ninth-placed Aldershot, while Exeter in fourth place visit Halifax, who are currently sixth from bottom. Morecambe, in sixth place, are at home to Crawley, while sixth-placed Gravesend & Northfleet are without a fixture.