15th placed Bury visit the KasStad tomorrow, hoping for some measure of revenge for United’s 4-0 win at Gigg Lane in October. Oxford, meanwhile, are still unbeaten at home and will be hoping to make home advantage count after a recent poor run of away form. Bury haven’t won away from home since mid-November, when they won 2-1 at Bristol Rovers, United’s next opponents, so Oxford must start as firm favourites to beat the Shakers.

Oxford are waiting to assess Steve Basham’s fitness after he limped off shortly before half-time at Yeovil last week, but both Lee Steele and Jefferson Louis are ready to come in to the side should Ian Atkins either want to or have to change things up front. Dean Whitehead will also be hopeful of regaining his place in midfield, and it is likely that Atkins will revert from his three-up-front formation so that Deano can be accommodated.

Bury have Lee Unsworth, and former Tranmere long-throw specialist Dave Challinor is on loan from Stockport. Defender Jon Cartledge is out with mumps and India international Harpal Singh also misses out after turning an ankle in training. Rage Online is curiously, and probably, fatally, optimistic about this game, and we will be surprised if United don’t win this game by 2-0 or more. We don’t like surprises.

Finally, Rage Online wishes former United trainer Ken Fish a happy 90th birthday for today. Fish was at United from the mid-60s until he retired in the late 80s. He has since had both legs amputated, and he lives with his family in Stoke, near to his first club, Port Vale. Fish has the unique honour of being the cover star of the first edition of Raging Bull, in August 1988.