WE welcome Walsall to Grenoble Road this afternoon for what I am sure will be a really entertaining game.

They have started the season well and were unbeaten until last weekend when they lost at home to Doncaster.

They have won away a couple of times as well as drawing at Barnsley so we know it’s not going to be easy.

However, we played well at Wycombe last Saturday and the spirit in the camp has been good all week.

We know we should have won at Adams Park really, but a draw on the road just keeps things moving in the right direction.

In the last six games we have had three wins, two away draws and just the one defeat.

A couple of those wins have come in cup competitions and clearly we would rather be putting points on the board in the league right now.

OK, we are only eight games in but it is time to start turning good play into league points and to start climbing that early table.

We are going to have to do it without Jamie Mackie and Marcus Browne today as well as Cameron Brannagan.

Jamie and Marcus have seen specialists this week – I know that phrase sends shivers through fans but all it means is they are getting the best possible advice!

With Jamie it is a hip problem and Marcus has a knee injury.

How’s your luck? They have had similar injuries before, to the opposite hip and other knee!

With Cameron it’s just a case of following the correct procedures which are in place these days when players suffer head injuries.

He was pole-axed at Wycombe but has been in and around the training ground this week and once he gets the green light to play again then he will be involved – hopefully against Manchester City on Tuesday.

We are fortunate to have Jamie Hanson available again after his suspension.

But over the last few weeks it has been great to see Shandon Baptiste grow into that midfield role.

I’ve talked a fair bit this week about injuries but when they happen it does open the door for other players and in Shandon’s case he has certainly made the most of it.

This week we offered him a four-year extension to his contract – that is how highly we rate him.

It is a fantastic example to all of our players that when your chance comes, be ready and give it your all.

WE have a fans’ forum before the game today, being held at the Oxford Academy at lunchtime.

Tiger is flying in for it and it’s a chance for fans to ask us a few questions.

I always like meeting supporters and over the last couple of weeks we have had a few come in to take a look behind the scenes and talk to me about how they feel the club is going.

It has been fascinating and at times an eye-opener for me.

Someone said there have two stories at the club over the years – the football team and the soap opera!

I’m finding out more about the latter each week but my first priority is making sure the team star in a success story this season.