Lewes v Oxford United preview

United travel to the Dripping Pan tomorrow for their first ever league fixture against Lewes. The only other occasion that the sides have met was in the FA Trophy, two seasons ago, when United won the replay 1-0 thanks to a Rob Duffy penalty, after the first game had ended goalless in Sussex. Oxford will be looking to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season, after their impressive dismantling of Cambridge United live on Setanta TV on Tuesday. The Rooks will be hoping to emulate their Tuesday performance, when they were denied a 1-0 win at Histon by a last-minute equaliser.[@opponent]lewes fc[/@opponent] [@connection]lewes[/@connection]

Oxford are suffering for their midweek win, with five players doubtful for tomorrow's match. The midfield has been hardest hit, with Phil Trainer limping off five minutes into the second half with a groin strain. Both Adam Murray and Joe Burnell are suffering with the same part of their anatomy, while winger Levi Reid pulled a hamstring in training. In addition, James Constable has a knee-knack and may have to give up his newly refound partnership with Jamie Guy. There is cover, with Eddie Hutchinson fit again, and Paul Evans also available, while ROS Sam Deering is still itching for his first start. Lewis Haldane replaced Trainer on Tuesday, and he could start after setting up Murray's goal and then scoring late on, while Yemi Odubade could move up front to replace Constable. Needless to say, this would leave the bench looking weak, with Barry Quinn and Chris Willmott probably sitting alongside Ben Hinchliffe, while it's possible that Alex Fisher or even Matty Taylor or Richard Groves might be recalled to the first team squad. Meanwhile, defender Karleigh Osbourne will play the last game of his one-month loan deal from Brentford, although Darren Patterson has been negotiating with Bees boss Andy Scott to get the loan extended for another couple of months.

Lewes have found the step up from the Conference South a bit of a struggle, and currently sit at the bottom of the table. They weren't helped when their unambitious board sacked promotion-winning manager Steve King, with the result that the vast majority of the players also left. New boss Kevin Keehan, formerly commercial manager at Brighton, has rebuilt the squad, but found it difficult to attract players good enough to compete in the Conference. One player he did sign was Danny Cullip from Brighton, but the former Oxford youth-team player was sent off at Histon on Tuesday and will miss tomorrow's game. Shame.

While on paper this game looks like it should be a straightforward win for United, Oxford supporters should know better than anyone that it just doesn't work like that. And in case any Us fans are feeling complacent, they need just cast their minds back to last season's game at Droylsden, who beat the Yellows 3-1 to register their first win of the season. That game was part of the Setanta hoodoo, an excuse that has now been laid to rest, but it was also a typically Oxford result. The Us will have to concentrate and play as they did on Tuesday night to earn the three points.