Football: It's crunch time for United

That's the view of reporters covering other clubs in the relegation dogfight, who are all praying that the U's don't pick up three points at the Manor on Saturday.

Cardiff, Blackpool and Scunthorpe are all sitting on Oxford's heels, waiting for Denis Smith's men to slip up.

And if they do, all three sides are confident of avoiding the drop at United's expense.

"It's simple. Scunthorpe must win on Saturday," said John Curtis of the Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph.

"I can see Cardiff possibly failing to pick up a single point from their last three and the way I see it, it will be a straight battle between the winner of Saturday's match and Blackpool.

Cardiff have a game in hand on the other sides but, despite facing three top-seven sides, remain confident.

"There is no reason why Cardiff can't win their two away games," said Terry Phillips of the South Wales Echo. "We are praying that Scunthorpe win on Saturday and there is talk of some Cardiff fans coming down and putting their flag up in the Scunthorpe end. I have been telling people that Mike Ford (the former Oxford skipper) will head the winner in injury time to keep Cardiff up in the final game of the season and relegate Oxford. Then he'll turn up for his testimonial two days later at the Manor and be booed throughout!"

It could be that United's main dangers now are Blackpool.

The Tangerines, managed by former Swindon boss Steve McMahon, needed to win their last three matches to have any chance of staying up and turned the form-book on its head to defeat promotion-chasing Bristol Rovers last Saturday.

On paper, they face the easiest run-in with a trip to Oldham followed by a match against already-relegated Chesterfield.

Steve Simpson, of the Evening Gazette, said: "The whole season has a different complexion after the win over Bristol. Everybody knew we had to win our last three games and deep down didn't think they would. Now the players really believe they can stay up."