United visit Stevenage Borough [@opponent]Stevenage Borough[/@opponent] tomorrow, knowing that if they don’t win they could be overtaken at the top of the table by second-placed Dagenham & Redbridge, who have a home game against bottom side Southport. Oxford have lost their last two away games, at Wycombe in the FA Cup, and at Gravesend, where they suffered their only Conference defeat so far. The Us have never faced Stevenage before, and so once again will be entering new territory. Tomorrow’s referee is DJ Cann, who’s the chap that sent off Barry Quinn at Dagenham in United’s first away game of the season.

Jim Smith is likely to change the side from the one that started against Tamworth last Saturday. Steady Eddie Hutchinson is struggling to be fit, so Carl Pettefer, who was dropped to the bench but who came on at half time to change the game, will almost certainly start. Phil Gilchrist should also be fit again to resume duties at the back, presumably in place of goalscorer Matt Day. Steve Basham is fit after getting a knock in training, and may come in to partner Rob Duffy, because Smith is unlikely to start with Jamie Slabber again.

Stevenage are currently 13th in the table, but this is due to a recent upturn in form, the side having spent much of the first half of the season in or around the relegation zone, despite being the pre-season favourites for the Conference title. They are managed by Mark Stimson, who was one of the Bald Eagle’s players at both Newcastle and Portsmouth, and when at St James Park was also a transfer target of United’s. Two former United players made the move from Oxford to Broadhall Way, goalkeeper Andy Woodman and defender Gary Smart both nipping over to Hertfordshire after their United days were over. [@player]Smart, Gary[/@player] [@player]Woodman, Andy[/@player] Simon Weatherstone [@player]Weatherstone, Simon[/@player] has also played for Borough, as has Rob Quinn [@player]Quinn, Robert[/@player]. Stevenage have won their last two games, and will presumably be reasonably confident, while United may still be suffering the effects of their Gravesend defeat. Therefore Rage Online is going to be cautious, and suggest that a 1-0 defeat may well be the order of the day. Go on, lads, prove us wrong (again).