Cambridge United, Oxford's opponents at the Manor tomorrow, have changed from very attack-minded to a much tighter ship.

The U's will be desperate to record their league first win of the season, but it could be another Brentford-like battle of trying to break down very stubborn opponents.

And that's why scoring first, and reasonably early, will be imperative.

Cambidge manager Roy McFarland has focused on his defence and goalkeeper instead of splashing out on a straight replacement for Trevor Benjamin, who joined Premiership club Leicester.

Although he bought Steve Slade from QPR, and a Swedish forward Jonas Axeldal, the big money went on French goalkeeper Lionel Perez and on ex-Oxford United centre back John Dreyer, who both arrived on free transfers under Bosman, but with big wages to boot.

Perez, for instance, was on 8,000 a week when he was at Newcastle, and even if he has taken quite a big pay cut, he will still be on massive wages compared to most Division 2 players. Axeldal, who played for three seasons in Italy's Serie A for Foggia, scored 23 goals to finish as Ipswich Town Reserves' top scorer last season.

But a boost for Oxford is that Slade will be suspended for tomorrow's match after he received a three-game ban following a sending-off at Bournemouth.

Teenagers Daniel Chillingworth and Nathan Lamey, who both scored for Cambridge Reserves in their 2-0 win over Gillingham Reserves in midweek, have been added to the squad.

Skipper Paul Wanless, another former United player, remains a key figure in a Cambridge side which is now defensively sound.

Lasy season they could always rely on Benjamin for a goal especially when there were opposing defenders like Phil Whelan making suicidal back-passes on surface water but this time they will look to keep it tight and see whether they can nick a goal.

They have kept three clean sheets in a row, with Perez saving a penalty in the game at Notts County, and are currently in the dizzy heights of sixth.