United visit Bury on Saturday looking to resurrect their away form and maintain a promotion challenge that has been threatened by not having won on the road since the opening game of the season. Oxford will be hampered by the continuing absence of Julian Alsop, who serves the last game of his four-match suspension, and there are minor questions over the fitness of Paul McCarthy, Mark Rawle and Matt Bound. Andy Crosby may return to the centre of defence if McCarthy is out, and Dave Waterman came through 90 minutes against Rushden & Diamonds in the LDV last night, so he could also return to the defence if required.

Up front there are still question marks over who will partner Steve Basham. Jefferson Louis played the full game against Rushden, but faded away as the match went on, while Manny Omoyinmi did his chances of a recall no harm at all with a lively, spirited display. Chris Hackett played the first half up front, but looked more comfortable on the wing in the second period. Rawle, if fit, could play but has done little so far to show that he’s not better coming off the bench as defences start to tire.

Oxford have only won twice at Gigg Lane, drawing there 1-1 last season when Scott McNiven scored his only goal for United so far. Even at our most wildly optimistic Rage Online wouldn’t predict anything better than a repeat of that scoreline this season, but unfortunately we reckon that the Shakers will roll United over by the tune of 2-1. We’re probably wrong though.