It’s a new-look United that will take to the pitch on Saturday, as top-of-the-table Doncaster Rovers come to town. The game will be Graham Rix’s first in charge as temporary manager, and United fans are eagerly waiting to see what formation, line-up, and tactics the former Portsmouth boss will choose. Most Oxford supporters would hope for a return to 4-4-2, but realistically is it too soon to adjust, having been stuck with an ultra-defensive line-up under Ian Atkins? Another pertinent question is whether the Us have the personnel to cope with such a formation, although the arrival today of Courtney Pitt, a left-winger, goes some way to addressing that point.

It will also be interesting to see which players currently on the injury list might be available for selection, with Matt Bound, Jon Ashton and Barry Quinn in particular hoping to work their way into their new boss’s plans. Up front there is a plethora of potential starters, with Steve Basham favourite to start, but who will line up alongside him? Julian Alsop was dropped to the bench on Saturday by caretaker manager David Oldfield, who was also a substitute, plus Lee Steele and Mark Rawle will also be hoping to oust new boy Richard Walker.

Dave Penney has worked wonders at last season’s Conference play-off winners, and has exceeded the expectations of many who thought that Doncaster would fade away as the season progressed. This in spite of the presence of Dave Morley in the Donny side. This is a very difficult game to call, as current form is now no longer relevant to a reformed United side. Expectations are high, but no-one really knows what to expect, if you know what we mean. Even if you don’t we’re going for a cautious prediction of 1-1 – don’t want to get too carried away just yet.