A morning pitch inspection will determine whether Oxford United’s League Two match against Barnet today can go ahead.

Match referee Bobby Madley, from West Yorkshire, travelled to Oxford yesterday to make a 10.30am inspection at the Kassam Stadium.

United have taken extra measures to try to get the game on, with hot air blowers underneath the covers.

But their hopes of being able to take the covers off yesterday were dashed because the outside temperature was still very low, The club issued a statement yesterday afternoon which read: “Covers are on and heaters are blasting hot air to areas of the pitch which are more compacted, and have been hit harder with the freezing temperatures that have been experienced.

“The area has experienced some very low temperatures this week and even though the pitch was covered some areas have struggled.

“The University Staff, with the help of Oxford Marques, have been working tirelessly to improve the chances of this game being played.

“The club were hoping to be able to take the covers off today (Friday), however with temperatures being -2 and -3 most of the day this would not have been beneficial.

“It is forecasted for temperatures to steadily rise throughout the night and in the morning, but it will depend on how quickly these temperatures do rise.”

United chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “We have to give tremendous credit to the University staff and thank Oxford Marques for the effort they have put in.

“We have a reasonable chance of this game being on, but will have to wait and see what the weather bri-ngs us up until the pitch inspection. “If it warms up early enough we will be OK, but if the temperatures stay low up to the pitch inspection it could be a problem.

“We have tried to follow the forecasts, but it seems this cold snap has lasted longer than most expected.”

Barnet should know whether the match is on before they set out.

If it gets the go-ahead, Harry Worley and Ben Futcher will continue as the centre half pairing, with Jake Wright sidelined because of his fractured fifth metatarsal.

The Bees will be without loanee Mark Byrne, who has returned to Nottingham Forest for treatment.

However, right-sided midfielder George Francomb’s loan deal from Norwich was this week extended until January.

Barnet, second from bottom in League Two, have failed to win away this season. Their last victory on the road came in a 2-1 success at Darlington in March.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Batt, Worley, Futcher, Kinniburgh, Craddock, Heslop, Wotton, Clist, Maclean, Constable, Hall, Tonkin, Potter, Eastwood, Green, Payne, Franks, Purkiss, Baker, Cole.

Barnet: (from) Cole, Devera, Uddin, Basey, Parkes, Marshall, Hughes, Southam, Francomb, Kabba, Gallen, Coulton, Jarvis, Holmes, Stimson, Cox, McLLeod, Vilhete.

l OXFORD United have played Barnet at home only once before.

That was towards the end of the 2005-6 season, when Jim Smith had just taken over as manager, and the U’s won 2-0, thanks to two goals from Tcham N’Toya in front of 6,948 at the Kassam Stadium.