Tomorrow is the game that most United supporters want to win over all others. Never mind that the U's are going down without a fight, if we can beat swindon the pill won't seem quite as bitter. If as a result of their defeat those red red robins go bob bob bobbing into the third division with us then it would be considered a job well done by Oxford fans.
United will still be without Chris Hackett, who serves the final match of his three game suspension, and the still injured Robert Quinn, plus Andy Scott's alleged thumping at Wrexham means that he too is unavailable, leading to the addition of Manny Omoyinmi to the squad. Paul Powell is also included in the squad for tomorrow's game, apparently scotching the quite strong rumours linking him with a move to West Bromwich Albion today. Originally the transfer was reported as being for £300,000 plus Albion midfielder Mark Briggs, then it was rumoured that Briggs didn't want to move to Oxford and so the fee then became £300,000 plus a 15% sell-on clause. Powell, who has only just recovered from a lengthy injury, was linked with WBA when Denis Smith was in charge there, and last season was reported to be interesting Newcastle United and Birmingham, who were apparently prepared to pay £1 million for his services. West Brom have just failed to sign Phil Gilchrist for £500,000 from Leicester, the Foxes valuing the former United defender at £1,000,000 even though he no longer figures in Peter Taylor's plans.
Form in this fixture has tended to go with the home side over the years, swindon not having won at the Manor since their 1-0 victory on January 9th 1993. Of the 23 times we've met at the Manor in the league United have won just seven games, with 12 draws. Of course with United's current run it would be unwise to assume that the same rules will apply, even though the opposition are little better and, although we cannot bring ourselves to predict the 3-1 defeat that will surely occur, even at our most optimistic we think that the best United can hope for is a 2-2 draw.