Oxford United's big test (From Oxford Mail)

Oxford United's big test

7:00am Saturday 13th March 2010 in

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Oxford United boss Chris Wilder says he’s looking to make two or three, rather than wholesale changes for what he describes as “a must-win game” against Kettering today.

Chris Hargreaves is out with a groin injury, and it would be no surprise if Lewis Chalmers replaced him after his decent showing when coming off the bench in Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat against Hayes & Yeading.

United’s manager looks set to make a couple of other switches, and one may be up front where Jack Midson could get the nod ahead of John Grant, with James Constable also possibly involved if he shows no reaction in training to his recent ankle injury.

Anthony Tonkin returns from a one-game ban, and with Jake Wright switching to centre back, that leaves room for only one of Mark Creighton or Rhys Day.

Hargreaves has been carrying a slight groin injury, and so is rested to try and get him right for next week.

Wilder says it will be a test of his players’ character at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon.

“As always, in sport, when things don’t go right, it’s how you react to that,” he said.

“I’m a strong believer in that. I’m a strong character myself and the players need to stand up and be counted on Saturday.

“If they do, if they’re positive and brave with the ball, I’m sure the crowd will get right behind them.”

He added: “We have to remember, it was only two weeks ago, against AFC Wimbledon, when we played the best we’ve played for a very long time.

“And there were only two players who played in that game, who didn’t play on Tuesday. So there are not going to be massive changes – but we might need to freshen it up.”

Following this match, both Oxford and Stevenage will have five remaining at home and six away.

But Wilder doesn’t discount others. Luton, who still have to play Stevenage, are just eight points behind the leaders and seven of their 11 remaining games are at home.

“After this game, we’re into an 11-game season,” Wilder said. “We’ve put ourselves in a great position and it’s what happens from now for two, three or four teams.

“It’s a massive game for us today and it’s one that we know we’ve got to win, if we want to make sure we’re in and around it.”

Kettering have been superb defensively, but they have struggled for goals, and new boss Lee Harper may make a change up front after Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat by Cambridge.

Kwesi Appiah, on loan from Peterborough, is likely to keep his place, but Jean-Paul Marna may return at the expense of Elliott Charles.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Chapman, Creighton, Wright, Tonkin, Deering, Bulman, Chalmers, Clist, Midson, M Green, Turley, Constable, Day, Batt, Grant, Cain, Cook.

Kettering Tn: (from) Abbey, Taylor, Dempster, Roper, Jennings, Dance, Hadfield, Boucard, Kelly, Appiah, Marna, Charles, Noubissie, Thelwell, Wrack, Thomas, Ebigo.