Oxford United’s three-game unbeaten run will be put to the test against Aldershot Town on Saturday.

Although the Shots are 15th in League Two, there’s little to choose between those in upper mid-table and lower mid-table.

Indeed, had Kevin Dillon’s team turned just two of their six draws into victories, they would be two points ahead of Oxford and in the play-off places.

They also showed what a strong squad they have by beating Oxford 2-0 in the John-stone’s Paint Trophy at the Recreation Ground in August.

“They were better on the night than us,” recalled United manager Chris Wilder. “They made changes and we made changes.

“We’re not down about what happened. We were disappointed to get knocked out, but we’re in good spirits and looking forward to tomorrow’s game.”

The Shots were knocked out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in the second round on Tue-sday, going down 1-0 at League One side Bristol Rovers, to a 90th-minute winner.

“Aldershot have, looking at their fixtures, maybe drawn a few games that they would have expected to win, and they’ll be looking to kick on,” Wilder said.

“It’s a local game as well, so it should be a good atmosphere.

“League positions at this point of the season can’t be too much looked into, because teams who have had a few injuries have maybe started a bit slowly.

“This is a real decent side that we’re playing against, a manager who has his team organised, disciplined, fit and revved up.

“And there’s no doubt that they’ll come expecting to win, and that will make for a good game.”

The confidence in the Oxford United camp is understandably high after last weekend’s exciting victory over Port Vale, which saw Ryan Clarke continue his fine form, and Tom Crad-dock show coolness in front of goal, with two great finishes.

“I thought it was the right result,” said United’s manager.

“I’ve spoken to people since and they’ve said they thought it was a fantastic performance.

“I didn’t think it was one of our best performances of the season.

“If I’m honest, we played better technically and tactically with the ball against Bury, and created more chances against Stockport and Wycombe.

“But people go away with the memory of the result, and with it being against the league leaders.

“There’s things that we can get better with.”

Partly because they’ve had so many draws, Aldershot have managed only one win in their last seven games, in all competitions, but that was a good win – 1-0 at Torquay, the division’s early pace-setters.

Their 2-0 defeat to Cheltenham last Saturday was the Shots’ first home defeat of the season.

And it was Cheltenham keeper Scott Brown – whose error in spilling Craddock’s shot led to Jack Midson earning Oxford a 1-1 draw four days earlier – who was the man of the match.