United travel back to Lincolnshire for the second time in two away games, this time to face Lincoln City. The Red Imps have been a bit of a thorn in United’s side over the past few seasons, denying the Us a play-off place by selfishly refusing to lose to Torquay two seasons ago, and last season doing the double over Oxfordshire’s finest. Lincoln’s failure to gain promotion again last season, though, could prove their undoing, as many of their best players have left, including Simon Yeo, Ben Futcher, Peter Gain, and Gary Taylor-Fletcher. They have brought in replacements, such as Gary Birch, Marvin Robinson, and Paul Mayo, but arguably they will have suffered a net decrease in quality, although manager Keith Alexander is no slouch and should be able to get his squad to perform.

Brian Talbot has no new injuries to his squad to worry about, although up-and-coming left winger Tom Winters remains unavailable, with surgery required on his knee. He is likely to keep almost the same starting line-up from Saturday’s game against Wycombe, with possibly Craig Davies dropping back to the bench after he became a full international on Wednesday night, playing the last nine minutes of Wales’ 0-0 draw with Slovenia. This would probably lead to a recall for Steve Basham, although Danny Morgan might have done enough to force himself into the reckoning. Rob Wolleaston’s performance for the reserves on Wednesday afternoon may have earned him a place on the bench.

United’s record at Lincoln is patchy, getting thumped there 3-0 last season, having won the opening game of the previous season there 1-0, thanks to Basham. With United having started the season playing well, and Lincoln still in a bit of disarray after the summer’s transfers, we’re yet again being optimistic, going for 1-1.

Finally, Rage Online would like to pass on our condolences to Dave Waterman and his family, following the tragic death from cancer of his son Oakley, aged just six years old, on Wednesday evening. There will be a minute’s silence in memory of Oakley prior to Oxford’s game against Stockport on 27 August.