Team news

Selection blues for U's Oxford will be without several first-team regulars for the npower League Two visit of Dagenham.

Striker Jon-Paul Pittman has been ruled out for up to four weeks with a hamstring injury, while veteran defender Tony Capaldi's knee and back troubles have kept him from making his U's debut since arriving from Morecambe in the summer.

Forward Tom Craddock is also struggling with a knee complaint which is set to sideline him for up to a month and midfielder Alfie Potter is out for the season after breaking an ankle in training recently.

Oxford manager Chris Wilder will be buoyed by the loan capture of Swindon frontman Mehdi Kerrouche, who is set to make his debut alongside James Constable, but defender Damien Batt serves the second and final game of his two-match ban.

New arrival Matthew Saunders is in line for his debut as Dagenham get back to action.

The midfielder finally completed his move to the league strugglers on Friday but was denied the chance to make his bow against relegation rivals Northampton at the weekend after the clash fell foul of the weather.

It was the Daggers' second successive postponement, although Saunders can expect to make his debut this time around at the Kassam Stadium.

Manager John Still is without loanees Cristian Montano, Ahmed Abdulla and Eoin Wearen for the first time following their departures.

Luke Howell is back in full training following his long-term knee injury but is still lacking match practice, while fellow midfielder Dominic Green is also involved with his team-mates once again, although it remains to be seen whether he will be included against the U's after his recent groin problems.

Oxford Utd vs Dag & Red

Last modified 22:22 14/02/12

Constable arrests U's poor recent run James Constable's fine finish 10 minutes from time handed Oxford a 2-1 victory over Dagenham, their first victory in four matches.

Oli Johnson had opened the scoring in his first start for the U's, before Dagenham equalised through skipper Mark Arber in the second half ahead of Constable's winner.

Johnson, released by Norwich last month, glanced in a deft near-post header from Liam Davis's left-wing cross six minutes into the second half to break the deadlock.

Constable had to clear off the line before Oxford missed a great chance to double their lead when new signing Scott Rendell raced through on goal. But a poor touch allowed keeper Chris Lewington to make a smothering save.

Centre-half Arber levelled in the 72nd minute, planting a header across goal and past keeper Ryan Clarke from Medy Elito's well-flighted cross. Oxford had failed to learn their lesson from two minutes earlier when Elito's cross evaded everyone, only for Jon Nurse to head straight at Clarke.