Cambridge United travel to Oxford United this evening aiming to build on an unbeaten February and a run of three consecutive wins against Halifax, Forest Green and York City. The wins lifted United into third place, and another tonight would move the U's above second-placed Torquay United, who lost at home to leaders Aldershot last night.

The bookies have United as 6/4 to win, with Oxford at 8/5 and the draw at 9/4, and as usual there is a wide range of other match odds. Click here for all the match odds.

Team News

Stephen Reed injured his ankle in training on Monday and he definitely misses out tonight, but he is the only new addition to an injury list that currently includes striker Dan Chillingworth (ankle) and midfielders Danny Brown (ankle), Darren Quinton (knee) and Michael Hyem (knee).

Jimmy Quinn welcomes three regular defenders back to the squad as Dan Gleeson, Mark Peters and Michael Morrison are all available again following suspension, but not all are guaranteed an immediate return.

Gleeson looks likely to return to his usual right wingback slot, allowing former Oxford man Courtney Pitt to switch back to his accustomed role on the left, but Quinn hinted that he will rotate his wealth of central defenders in the next two games.

"It's nice to have the problem but we defended very well on Saturday so Dan Gleeson will probably come back in for Stephen Reed but the rest of them will have to fight to get back in," he told cambridgeunited.com

"I might just change things around and give one or two players a rest because it's a long old season and there are a lot of games to play before the end of the season, so just to keep everyone on their toes I might start with a couple tonight and then look at changing it on Saturday."

Lee Boylan has missed part of the season with ankle and hamstring injuries but the little striker returned to form with a brace against York on Saturday and is hoping for the chance to make up for lost time. However one of Saturday's front three of Boylan, Lee McEvilly and Mark Beesley looks set to miss out for this away game.

"Lee has done terrifically well and I'm glad he scored, it will be great for his confidence," commented Quinn, before adding, "I'll probably play with two forwards against Oxford because away from home particularly you need to be tight in the middle, so I'll be looking at that and I know I have plenty of options now if I need to change a game."

Courtney Pitt is not the only U to be returning to a former club tonight; Rob Wolleaston, Wayne Hatswell and injured skipper Danny Brown also count Oxford United among their former clubs.

The Opposition

Oxford are currently twelfth on 44 points, 20 behind United, but they have won two of their last three games and haven't conceded in their last three, and they have only been beaten twice at home all season.

On the other hand, goals have been hard to come by for the other U's and they have failed to score in eighteen of their games this season and have drawn a blank in eleven of their last seventeen.

In our meeting earlier this season - our first home game of the season - the game looked to be heading for a 1-1 draw after Leo Fortune-West had cancelled out Gary Twigg's first half goal, but in stoppage time Lee Boylan turned on the edge of the area and fired home his first goal for his new club.

Manager Darren Patterson, who took over from Jim Smith when he moved onto the board earlier this season, is a former Northern Ireland team-mate of Quinn and the two men speak highly of each other.

"Darren is a nice fellow, obviously new to the management game, but I hope he does well there - after tonight's game, obviously! - and I'm sure whatever happens we'll have a drink afterwards," said Quinn.

"He's taken on a tough job because of the expectations - Oxford are a big club in our league - but I'm quite sure he's up for the fight. I think this season is a transitional period for them and they'll get this season out of the way and then rebuild for next season, but they'll still be looking for some good results along the way.

"Darren will want to finish this season on a high and that will involve beating us and beating some of the top teams to give them that confidence, so it's going to be a tough game. It's always a tough place to go but we've got to go there and get a result."

However wins at Oxford have been rare - our last eleven games there have yielded six defeats and four draws. Having laid the Halifax hoodoo to rest ten days ago, United will need to do it again to move into second.

More Information

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