CHRIS Wilder is confident his in-form Oxford United side can translate their superb away form into a home victory against Bristol Rovers today.
The U’s have won their last four away matches and are eager to improve on just one league win at the Kassam Stadium this season.
However, as has hampered United so much this season, it’s a case of waiting and seeing on the injury front.
Wilder’s side had seven players missing at Hereford through injury last week, with Alfie Potter and Michael Duberry playing with knocks.
Both were rested in the midweek win over Aldershot, along with goalkeeper Ryan Clarke, midfielder Paul McLaren and striker James Constable.
Four of them should return to the starting line-up today, with Potter, who played with a tight hamstring at Edgar Street, the only doubt.
“The players are a confident bunch at the mo-ment,” Wilder said.
“They have grown as a team this season and although we have been smashed on the injury front, they have done well.
“We have the ability to open teams up, but also when teams come at us, we defend properly and as a unit.
“We just have to keep picking up results, and we are all desperate to put on a show in front of our fans today in what will be a cracking atmosphere.”
He added: “We are getting there on the injury front.
“But we had seven missing through injury last week, and then in midweek you can add Alfie and Dubes to that. We are getting there slowly.”
It remains to be seen whether Deane Smalley’s first goal for the club in midweek will be enough to secure him a starting role.
Bristol Rovers, meanwhile, yesterday signed striker Scott Rendell, who comes straight into the squad to face Oxford.
Rovers are likely to make changes from the side that lost 3-1 at home to Cheltenham last week.
Dan Woodards went off with a rib injury and will be replaced by Michael Smith. And Matt Harrold is expected to come in forMustapha Carayol in attack.
Matt Gill (hamstring), Scott McGleish (knee) and Wayne Brown (ankle) are struggling.
Oxford Utd: from Clarke, Batt, Duberry, Wright, Davis, Heslop, McLaren, Leven, Potter, Constable, R Hall, Smalley, Haworth, A Hall, Payne, Whing, Kinniburgh, W Brown, Potter.
Bristol Rov: probable Beavon, Smith, Bolger, Anthony, L Brown, Zebroski, Campbell, Stanley, Anyinsah, Rich-ard, Harrold. Subs: Virgo, Norburn, Carayol, W Brown, McGleish, Rendell.
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