FOOTBALL: U's screen test (From Oxford Mail)

FOOTBALL: U's screen test

8:00am Monday 29th January 2007

• Print
• Email
• Share

OXFORD United go in front of the Sky television cameras tonight knowing that nothing but a victory will do.

o Dagenham & Redbridge moved an alarming nine points clear of United with their impressive 4-1 home win over Exeter on Saturday.

And boss Jim Smith is under no illusions that his side have to get back to winning ways against Rushden & Diamonds if they are to harbour any hopes of winning the Conference title.

The U's were nine points clear of Dagenham earlier in the season, but have seen their title rivals steadily claw back the advantage.

And with Smith's side without a league win since November, the Daggers are now favourites to claim the crown.

Both Oxford and Rushden were in League Two a year ago, and dropping down has been a painful experience.

Yet United should remember that they're still unbeaten at home this season.

What they need, though, is not another draw, but a morale-boosing victory, however it's achieved.

Manager Jim Smith calls it "a massive game".

United are again hit by injuries, although Latvian striker Kris Grebis makes his home debut and new on-loan midfielder Gregg Coombes his full debut.

Andy Burgess and Eddie Anaclet should be available again, but key players remained sidelined.

Central defenders Georges Santos, Matt Day and Chris Willmott are out for some time, and with John Dempster having left to join Ron Atkinson at Kettering on Friday, Smith has defensive worries.

"The one place I thought we were well catered for was in central defence," Smith said.

"I thought it was our strong point. It's incredible to lose three centre halves like this."

He seems likely to pair Barry Quinn and Phil Gilchrist together at the back, with Danny Rose and Coombes making it a young-looking midfield.

To rub salt into their wounds, Rushden have four centre backs in their back four, with Mark Albrighton, on loan from Boston, hoining Chris Hope in the centre, and ex-United men Jon Ashton and Wayne Hatswell at full-back.

Burgess's best mate, Gary Mills, will be joined in the Diamonds' central midfield by ex-U's skipper Dave Savage, who has missed the last two games because of 'flu, but will return in place of Glenn Wilson.

And up front, Chris Beardsley, on loan from Mansfield, is joined by 11-goal leading scorer Simeon Jackson, who has scored in each of the last two games.

Oxford have not won for eight league games, but Rushden's new manager, Graham Westley, said his team wouldn't be fooled by that.

"I wouldn't mind being in their kind of form when they haven't lost at home this year.

"They're still unbeaten so it's a great opportunity to become the first team to win there.

"It's not going to be easy because they've got a good home record, but it's all about winning games on the day, not about what's happened in the past.

"They've got some excellent footballers so it's going to be a tough encounter."

Oxford Utd: (from) Turley, Anaclet, Quinn, Gilchrist, Johnson, Rose, Coombes, Hargreaves, Burgess, Duffy, Grebis, Tardif, Brevett, Odubade, Robinson, Kennet.

Rushden & Diamonds: (from) Tynan, Ashton, Albrighton, Hope, Hatswell, Cook, Savage, Mills, Kelly, Beardsley, Jackson, Margarson, Tomlin, Wilson, Rankine, Perpetuini.

• Print
• Email
• Share