Oxford United v Cambridge United

While the gloom, paranoia, and hysteria surrounding Oxford United's off-field activities (or lack of them) continues, life goes on for the players, for now. Tonight's visitors are Cambridge United, who did the double over the Us last season, and who are currently sixth in the Conference. With the game being shown live on Setanta, the omens aren't good for United, who have won only once at home this season, and who have been playing like a team in disarray in the last couple of matches.[@opponent]cambridge united[/@opponent][@connection]cambridge united[/@connection]

However, there is some good news for Oxford on the playing front, with Luke Foster having now completed his four-game ban. He will almost certainly go straight back in to the defence, especially given that on-loan Karleigh Osbourne is a doubt after picking up a knock in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Crawley Town. In goal it is likely that Ben Hinchliffe will return after coming on as a substitute on Saturday following a groin injury to Billy Turley, who was making his first appearance of the season and who must now be regarded as unlikely to play. In midfield, Phil Trainer played the full 90 minutes on Saturday in his first appearance of the season, and there must be a doubt as to whether he will be up to another game so soon, which could open the way for the ROS Sam Deering to make his first start for the club. Up front it is possible that the striking combination of James Constable and Jamie Guy may make a comeback, after both players were on the bench on Saturday. They have now both recovered from their injuries, giving under-fire manager Darren Patterson some decent options at last.

Cambridge are unbeaten on the road so far this season, and they must be confident of extending that record tonight. They drew 1-1 at Mansfield on Saturday, former U Danny Brown giving Cambridge the lead. Other ex-Us Wayne Hatswell and Phil Bolland both started that game for Cambridge, who also have Courtney Pitt knocking around somewhere in the recesses of their squad. United fans will watch tonight's game in hope, rather than expectation, given that they haven't yet won when been shown live on Setanta in ten attempts so far, and haven't even scored in the last four appearances. Could it be tonight that everything falls into place and the side start to turn it around? Um, probably not, no.