Oxford United are in a run of games where every team they come up against seems to be in top form – and it's the same with Burton Albion on Saturday.

The Brewers have won four and drawn one of their last five Blue Square Premier games, and that includes a victory over leaders Crawley.

So this will be a third successive very testing home match for the U's, after Cambridge and Rushden. Yet they won the last two, so will be aiming for a noteworthy hat-trick.

Unfortunately, in between, there have been disappointing away defeats.

The frustrating thing for United fans at the moment, is that Darren Patterson's team just cannot string two wins together.

It's that age-old problem of struggling to keep clean sheets, and being unable to score goals on a regular basis.

Oxford have managed only one clean sheet all season, in the 0-0 draw at home to Woking, and they are simply missing too many opportunities in front of goal.

Had they taken one of their gilt-edged chances in the first half at Altrincham last Sunday, when they were so dominant, they would surely have gone on to register a second away win of the campaign.

"It's the story of our season," admitted skipper Joe Burnell. "Jamie Guy was one-on-one with the keeper and Yemi somehow hit the ball over when it came back to him. They were two great chances really."

Patterson is as frustrated as anyone by United's inconsistency.

"It's one step forward, one step back at the moment," he said. "We can't seem to get two on the bounce. Or, more importantly, two, three or four on the bounce.

"But we believe we can beat anyone on our day at home, and have shown that in our last two here."

The Brewers moved into third place by beating Mansfield 1-0 on Monday night, but they are considerably stronger at home, where they are unbeaten in eight matches, than on their travels.

Away from home they have managed 1-0 wins at Salisbury and Wrexham, but have also tasted defeat at Histon (4-3), at Rushden (2-1) and at Stevenage (4-1).

Their 0-0 draw at Barrow was the only occasion this season in which they have failed to find the net – compared with Oxford, who have failed to score in six games.

Boss Nigel Clough reportedly went ballistic after that match because his team should have had a hatful of goals.

Clough will be without captain Darren Stride against the U's.

The centre half, who has been a rock at the back, came off with a thigh injury against Mansfield and has already been ruled out.

Left back Aaron Webster will switch to the centre, to partner Jake Buxton, while 19-year-old Matt Bailey, on loan from Wolves, comes in at left back.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Burton will have Lee Morris, the former Sheffield United, Derby County and Leicester City striker or attacking midfielder, whose capture could prove a coup for Clough if he can recapture anything like his form of old.

Now 28, Morris has played in the Premier League, and went from Bramall Lane to Pride Park for no less than £3m in 1999.

Morris has had two major knee operations and looked to be on the verge of having to pack in the game when he left Yeovil in March.

He joined Burton in August on non-contract terms and this week signed a deal to stay for the rest of the season.

United have recent memories of how strong Clough's men can be.

It was only in March that Burton won 3-0 at the Kassam Stadium.