OXFORD United will be up against Stockport County's second-choice keeper on Sunday as they bid to get the goals which could keep them in Division 1.

Malcolm Shotton's team need to score at least four times to have any chance of avoiding relegation and even then it depends on both QPR and Bury losing their games at home.

Mid-table Stockport have little to play for and regular No 1 Carlo Nash will be watching from the sidelines as manager Gary Megson gives former Rochdale keeper Ian Gray a rare outing.

Gray played in the 3-1 defeat by Portsmouth and 1-0 defeat by Sunderland last Saturday.

United striker Andy Thomson is an injury worry after missing the reserves' match at Gillingham.

Stockport skipper Mike Flynn is the best pal of Oxford striker Kevin Francis, but admits that friendship goes out of the window when the game kicks off.

"It's very unlikely Oxford are going to get out of it and we certainly won't be helping them," he said. "Big Kev's my best mate. We roomed together for three years while we were at County but as soon as we get out on the pitch everything is forgotten.

"It's not true we've got nothing to play for. We've got pride and bonuses to play for," he said.

BBC Thames Valley FM will have reporters at both QPR and Bury for their coverage of United's clash with Stockport.

Story date: Friday 07 May

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