Roy McFarland could make changes for tonight's match against Bristol City. His side will be even more motivated to go in search of all three points after being denied a third successive away win by a late and controversial penalty on Saturday.

On-loan defender Tom Cowan (pictured right) has been an instant hit since arriving from Burnley in time to start the Bury game but he is rated doubtful.

The 30-year-old twisted an ankle at Brentford and with another crunch game on Saturday McFarland said tonight's game may have come too soon for him. Ian Ashbee will deputise if the Scot is ruled out, forcing a midfield reshuffle.

McFarland has said previously that 35-year-old John Taylor is not up to playing two successive games in a week and the veteran striker has started the last three, against Bury, Millwall and the Bees, so he could be due for a rest. If so, favourites to partner Trevor Benjamin are 20-year-old Tom Youngs and transfer-listed Michael Kyd, as Steve Guinan is out with a hamstring injury. However if Ian Ashbee is required to fill in for Cowan at left-back then Youngs will probably return to midfield, meaning a choice between Taylor or Kyd for the slot up front. Recent signing Zema Abbey, from non-league Hitchin Town, has featured from the bench in the late stages of two of those games and he could be involved at some point.

United have lost the last two home games and must stop that trend in order to take advantage of the stuttering form of our fellow strugglers at the foot of Division Two.

Bristol City visit the Abbey Stadium tonight after a 4-1 mauling by Millwall on Saturday ended their 15-match unbeaten run. They need to bounce back if they are to keep their hopes of a play-off place alive and manager Tony Fawthrop, who collected his Manager of the Month award before Saturday's defeat, believes he knows what sort of challenge his side will face tonight:

"Millwall were a very good side on the day and the important thing is that we learn from what happened there. They played route one football with more quality than people normally associate with that style. We are likely to face a similar approach from Cambridge and need to be prepared for it," he said.

City skipper Steve Davis is still ruled out but top scorer Tony Thorpe is set for a recall after missing the Millwall match through suspension.