United take on top-of-the-table Rushden & Diamonds[@opponent]Rushden & Diamonds[/@opponent] at the Manor in this evening's live TV game, hoping to halve the deficit. Or so Sky Sports would have us believe. Actually, the game takes place at Minchery Farm, and against a Rushden side that is currently fifth from bottom of the Conference. United have only lost one live televised game since going down 4-1 at Middlesbrough, in 1998, although they haven't beaten Rushden in any of the last six meetings, although their only home defeat was in some tinpot cup game.[@news]610[/@news]

Jim Smith has another option to play with when selecting his team, as on-loan midfielder Gregg Coombes stands by to make his debut after signing from Cardiff City at the end of last week. He is pretty much a direct replacement for Carl Pettefer, who was injured at Woking and is likely to be out for up to three weeks. Andy Burgess returns after injury and illness. Smith could also have problems on the flanks, with both possible right wingbacks, Eddie Anaclet and Matt Day, out injured. With Georges Santos being stretchered off at Woking and former Rushden defender John Dempster[@player]Dempster, John[/@player] going on loan to Kettering Town for a month, there will be a reshuffle at the back, with either Andy Gunn getting his first start, someone else being played in an unfamiliar position (possibly Rufus Brevett), or a switch to a flat back four. Ex-Rushden loanee Barry Quinn will line up alongside Phil Gilchrist. Up front, Kris Grebis should make his home debut, alongside former Diamond Rob Duffy, while another former Nene Park denizen, Billy Turley, will be between the sticks for the Us.

Like the ex-Diamonds in the Oxford squad, Rushden's roster is littered with former Us. At the back they have Jon Ashton[@player]Ashton, Jon[/@player] and Wayne Hatswell[@player]Hatswell, Wayne[/@player], in midfield they feature Dave Savage[@player]Savage, David[/@player], and up front there's former Rage Online sponsee Jamie Cook[@player]Cook, Jamie[/@player]. When you consider that other players, such as goalie Andy Woodman[@player]Woodman, Andy[/@player] and manager Brian Talbot[@manager]Talbot, Brian[/@manager], have featured for both clubs, it is clear that there is a close link between them. This is a big game for United, who need to make up some ground on Dagenham & Redbridge, whose 4-1 win over Exeter on Saturday increased the gap at the top to nine points. Rushden will also be looking to put some space between them and the relegation zone, and have brought in former Crawley loanee Michael Bostwick this week to strengthen their squad. The Diamonds are on a bit of a roll, having won their last three games, but the stakes for Oxford are so high that we blindly believe that United will win this one. 2-0. We will be wearing our lucky underpants (or we would, if we had some).