The leaders of the basement division visit the KasStad on Saturday, with Oxford hoping that there’ll be no repeat of their 6-1 thrashing at Huish Park by Yeovil. There shouldn’t be, as United’s new management team seem to have tightened up the defence, but you can never tell in football (and, more especially, with United). Oxford’s record against teams in the top half is patchy, if something that’s a uniform shade of black can be considered a patch, but if they’re going to turn things around this season then now is the time.

There are concerns over the fitness of Jon Ashton, who left the pitch at Darlington in the first half with an injury, but new signing from Paraguay’s Club Olimpia, Uruguayan Mateo Corbo, is likely to go straight into the side probably to line up alongside Leo Roget. Barry Quinn is back from suspension and will almost certainly come in for Paul Wanless, while Chris Hackett completes his three-match ban. With Jamie Brooks apparently suffering an injury at the hands (or legs) of a triallist during training today this opens the way for Doudou to make his first start, and gives the opportunity for Ramon Diaz and Horacio Rodrigues to experiment in midfield. Or not.

Yeovil will be without midfielder Lee Johnson, who has totted up five yellow cards, and defender Steven Reed who is also suspended from when he was on loan at Forest Green Rovers. Nevertheless, the Glovers will doubtless be fired up for the game after their 3-0 win at Rotherham in the FA Cup at the weekend, and they have already sold out of their advance ticket allocation. Rage Online, ever the optimists, consider that United will be lucky to get away with anything better than a 2-1 defeat. Sorry.