The Minstermen from York visit the KasStad tomorrow night in a game that United really need to win in order to get their promotion challenge back on track, following a run of only two wins this year. This is United’s third home midweek fixture of the season, and they have won both the previous two. Last season United beat York 2-0 in the last game of the season, Steve Basham scoring both goals, in Oxford’s ultimately fruitless bid to make the play-offs.

Oxford will be boosted by the arrival of midfielder Barry Quinn, on loan from Coventry City. Quinn might come in for any of the three regular midfielders, but hopefully Dean Whitehead, the only creative player of the three, will retain his place. Paul Wanless has struggled recently, while James Hunt is similar in style, if not effect, to Wanless. At the back Matt Bound is likely to keep his place after a commanding performance at the Memorial Ground on Saturday, so Jon Ashton could find himself still on the bench. Up front Basham is unlikely to feature, and we can’t honestly see Jefferson Louis being in the frame either. We expect Julian Alsop to start, probably alongside Mark Rawle.

York, of course, have Lee Nogan in their side, and Noges was on target when the teams met at Bootham Crescent in October. That game ended 2-2, with ROS Chris Hackett scoring a late equaliser for United. It would be nice to see him being given the chance to repeat the feat tomorrow. Indeed, the famously incorrect Rage Online prediction is for a repeat scoreline.

Regarding Quinn, here’s what a couple of former schoolmates of his have to say about him:

“He was the captain of Ireland’s most successful ever team, winning the Under-18 European Championships against Germany – he played in central midfield, scored his penalty in the shootout. I think he may have a record number of U21 caps but I’m not sure. I’m pretty sure he only started the one full international, against Greece – he went off with a broken leg after half an hour. He was an amazing player in school but I couldn’t tell you much about how things have gone for him over the last five years.”

and

“The reason he hasn’t scored many goals is that he is almost always plays as a defender these days. Started out as a midfielder at Coventry but eventually ended up playing full-back for most of his games. Went to Rushden & Diamonds for a loan spell a month or two back, after a long injury. Believe me, he can fairly smack a ball when he wants to and pass it around faily effectively, so hopefully he’ll get some midfield games under his belt now.”