Oxford Utd

Boston 1-0 Oxford
Alan White's seventh-minute strike proved enough for Boston as Jim Smith's return to the club he first managed ended in a narrow defeat. The defender swept home from close range after U's keeper Billy Turley had flapped at Austin McCann's free-kick. He went close again with a header seven minutes later, while Brad Maylett and David Galbraith also tested McCann. However, Oxford stepped up in the second half and should have levelled when Leo Roget fired wide late on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boston Utd: Kuipers, Canoville (Silk 18), Ellender, White, McCann, Maylett, Clarke (Holland 69), Greaves, Galbraith (Joachim 84), Thomas, Dudfield. Subs Not Used: Melton, Chinn. Goals: White 6. Oxford Utd: Turley, Mansell, Robinson (Basham 83), Quinn, Willmott, Ashton (Burgess 48), Hargreaves, Brooks (Horsted 61), Roget, N'Toya, Sabin. Subs Not Used: Tardif, Goodhind. Booked: Mansell. Att: 2,313 Ref: M Russell (Hertfordshire).

Oxford v Northampton
Oxford hope on-loan goalkeeper Andrea Guatelli will be back after missing the defeat at Boston through injury. Fellow loanee, midfielder Jay Smith, is still struggling with injury and he is likely to miss out. Northampton expect to have Jason Crowe back after he missed the win against Stockport with a hamstring strain. Experienced midfielder Ian Taylor is still recovering from a broken arm and is not ready to return, while Fred Murray is out with Achilles trouble.

Oxford 1-3 Northampton
Two goals in three second-half minutes made sure of the win for Northampton. Chris Doig's third goal of the season gave Northampton a 17th-minute lead, putting the visitors in charge. Jason Lee's glancing header nearly doubled the lead before Martin Smith's angled drive and Josh Low's header put them 3-0 up. Defender Chris Willmott's header pulled one back for Oxford but Northampton's sixth win in seven game keeps their promotion bid on track. Oxford Utd: Turley, Robinson, Willmott, Roget, Dempster, Burgess, Hargreaves, Quinn, Mansell, Sabin (Basham 55), N'Toya (Odubade 82). Subs Not Used: Guatelli, Brooks, Winters. Goals: Willmott 75. Northampton: Harper, Doig, Chambers, Dyche, Johnson, Low (Bojic 85), Hunt, Rowson, Smith (Hand 73), McGleish (Kirk 85), Lee. Subs Not Used: Dunn, Jess. Goals: Doig 16, Smith 69, Low 71. Att: 8,264 Ref: K Friend (Leicestershire).

Oxford chairman in plea to fans
Oxford United chairman Nick Merry is urging the fans to stay behind the team to help them avoid relegation. Only a goal difference of one better than Torquay is keeping the U's out of the drop zone with two games left. "The passion and the support the fans have shown has been superb and we are all desperate to reward that with safety," Merry told the club website. "We are in control of our own destiny and if we stay positive that may drag a final extra effort out of the players."

Wrexham v Oxford United
Andy Holt is set to miss out for Wrexham with a dead leg, but goalkeeper Michael Ingham is available again after recovering from a wrist injury. Midfielder Matt Crowell is again expected to start after shaking off a knock as The Dragons need to win to keep their slim promotion hopes alive. Oxford have suffered a blow by losing centre-half Leo Roget (ankle) as they battle against the drop. John Dempster is set to partner Chris Willmott in the heart of the defence.

Wrexham 1-1 Oxford United
Oxford United dropped into the League Two relegation zone after only managing a draw at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground. Oxford must now beat Leyton Orient on the last day of the season to stand any chance of staying up. Wrexham took a first-half lead after Oxford keeper Andreas Guatelli made a blunder, dropping the ball at the feet of Matt Cromwell who took advantage. Oxford levelled when Shaun Pejic impeded Eric Sabin in the box and Tcham N'Toya scored the penalty. Wrexham were bolstered by news the club could soon come out of administration after the sale of the club was agreed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wrexham: Michael Jones, Pejic, Danny Williams, Mike Williams, Roche, Crowell, Ferguson (Done 56), Mark Jones (Bennett 45), Holt, Walters (Lawrence 85), Derbyshire. Subs Not Used: Ingham, Smith. Goals: Crowell 28. Oxford Utd: Guatelli (Tardif 32), Mansell, Dempster, Willmott, Robinson, Quinn, Hargreaves (Smith 45), Burgess, Basham (Sills 62), N'Toya, Sabin. Subs Not Used: Odubade, Brooks. Booked: Willmott. Goals: N'Toya 64 pen. Att: 4,575 Ref: S Tanner (Somerset).

Boss Smith lets seven players go
Oxford United manager Jim Smith has released seven players following the club's relegation to the Conference. Jamie Brooks, Matt Robinson, Leo Roget, Mark E'Beyer, Stuart Gray, Jon Ashton and Bradie Clark will leave. On-loan defender Warren Goodhind is also on his way out of the Kassam Stadium and will return to Rochdale. However, Smith has opened contract talks with Southend midfielder Jay Smith and Chesterfield striker Tcham N'Toya following their loan stays.

Oxford's Sabin decides to retire
Oxford striker Eric Sabin has decided to retire from professional football. The 31-year-old Frenchman joined the U's from Northampton last August and scored nine goals in 34 starts. But now the former Swindon player is ready for a fresh challenge and told the club's website: "I feel it is time to move on and start a new life. "I have business ideas I would like to pursue. One of them involves programme production and the other involves soccer camps in France and the UK."

U's will not pursue Blyth striker
Oxford United boss Jim Smith has decided not to pursue his interest in Blyth Spartans striker Robbie Dale. Dale spent three weeks training with the U's and appeared in a pre-season friendly, but will now return to his Conference North club. \"We weren't aware that Blyth had an option on Robbie's contract when he came,\" Smith told the club website. \"Robbie feels he wants to stay in the north-east, so that is what he will do, and we wish him well.\"

Striker Duffy handed Oxford deal
Oxford United have completed the signing of striker Rob Duffy - brother of Portsmouth defender Richard. Duffy, 23, spent five years at Rushden & Diamonds before spells with Kettering and Stevenage last season, and has signed a two-year deal with the U's. Meanwhile, Oxford have released 20-year-old winger Tom Winters. The player was offered a three-month contract, but the deal would have ended after the transfer deadline making it difficult to find him a club. An agreement was reached in order for Winters to leave in August to try to find a club.

Oxford Utd 0-0 Portsmouth
Lomana LuaLua limped off with an ankle injury as Portsmouth were held to a goalless draw by Conference side Oxford at the Kassam Stadium. LuaLua was forced off after half an hour following a collision with U's goalkeeper Billy Turley. Matt Taylor had Pompey's best chances, forcing an instinctive save from Turley with a flick, then sending a header wide of the post. Gavin Johnson went close for Oxford but neither side could break the deadlock.

Dag & Red v Oxford
Injury-hit Dagenham are expected to give starts to David Rainford and Sam Slona after impressive debuts. Danny Foster (hip), Tim Cole (calf), Paul Bruce (groin), Lee Goodwin (knee) and Craig Mackail-Smith are all definitely out. Oxford manager is without Chris Willmott, who is sitting out the second game of a three-match ban. The defender was sent off on the final day of last season in the League Two clash against Leyton Orient.

Smith ready for tough challenges
Oxford United boss Jim Smith is pleased with his team's start to the season but has warned his players of the tough challenges away from home. Smith's team won 1-0 at Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday and the manager said: \"We'd been anticipating six points from our first two games. \"But we know now that you don't get any easy games in the Conference. \"We're going to get these games alot away from home, at tight grounds and be in for a serious physical battle.\"

Burton v Oxford
Burton defender Darren Tinson is struggling with a calf injury and is doubtful for the Pirelli Stadium match. Albion skipper Darren Stride appears to be over the worse after suffering a neck injury and is back in contention. Oxford will be without Barry Quinn for the trip to Burton after the defender was sent off in the midweek while Chris Wilmott serve the last game of his ban. Manager Jim Smith must decide whether to alternate to a three-man defence or draft in youngster Andrew Gunn.

Burton 1-2 Oxford
Two late goals from Robert Duffy helped maintain Oxford's 100% start to the season against Burton. Burton took a first-half lead when Andrew Ducros crossed for his strike partner Daryl Clare to head home after 15 minutes. Oxford equalised in the 75th minute when Duffy nodded Yemi Odubade's cross into the bottom corner. The Us completed a fine comeback with four minutes remaining with a Duffy penalty after Odubade was brought down. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burton Albion: Poole, Webster, Austin, Tinson, Rowett, Gilroy, Fowler, Stride, Corbett, Ducros (Scoffham 77), Clare. Subs Not Used: Harrad, Henshaw, Shaw, Holmes. Booked: Rowett, Clare. Goals: Clare 15. Oxford Utd: Turley, Day, Gilchrist, Dempster (Hutchinson 72), Johnson, Anaclet, Hargreaves, Burgess, Pettefer, Basham (Odubade 57), Duffy. Subs Not Used: Tardif, Gunn, Kennet. Goals: Duffy 75, 86 pen. Att: 2,501. Ref: S Proctor-Green (Lincolnshire).

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