OXFORD have failed to score in their last three visits to Glanford Park, but they can perhaps look back to their League meeting with Scunthorpe at the Manor Ground three years ago as a good omen, writes JON MURRAY.

That Division 2 encounter on April 29, 2000 was also the penultimate match of the season and Oxford needed to win it to give themselves a chance of avoiding relegation.

A goal in each half from Matt Murphy and Paul Powell brought them a 2-0 win, and with Cardiff losing at Gillingham three days later, it was the Welsh club, and not Oxford, who occupied the final relegation place.

The U's lost their final game 1-0 at Milwall but finished 20th and stayed up. Scunthorpe, who had Manny Omoyinmi in their side, were relegated.

In head-to-heads in Lincolnshire, Oxford were unbeaten in four visits to Scunthorpe's Old Showground, but have yet to record a win at Glanford Park.

Oxford United's league record at Scunthorpe - 1965-6: 2-1. 1966-7: 2-2. 1967-8: 1-1. 1983-4: 0-0. 1999-2000: 0-1. 2001-2: 0-1.

BOOKIES make Scunthorpe 11-10 favourites to win today's game, with Oxford 9-5 and the draw 12-5.

SCUNTHORPE striker Martin Carruthers is the division's joint second top scorer on 20 goals, alongside Cambridge's Dave Kitson, but both are well behind Wrexham's 33-goal Andrew Morrell.

OXFORD, who have already set a club record of 13 away triumphs in a season, are looking to make it 14. They are also aiming for their 19th clean sheet of the campaign, their highest tally since the 1995-6 promotion season.

REMAINING MATCHES

Bournemouth: Lincoln (h), Carlisle (a).

Bury: Southend (a), Wrexham (h).

Scunthorpe: Oxford (h), Shrewsbury (a).

Oxford Utd: Scunthorpe (a), York (h).

Lincoln: Bournemouth (a), Torquay (h).

York: Exeter (h), Oxford (a).

Torquay: Carlisle (h), Lincoln (a).