Luke Garbutt celebrates the winning goal against Charlton in April 2019 (Photo: Steve Daniels)

United go into Saturday’s game against Charlton Athletic full of confidence and looking for their fourth win in succession, a feat they haven’t achieved since November 2023.

Saturday’s 12.30pm kick off (don’t turn up late!) will be the 54th time the sides have met, with 25 of the games being played in Oxford. United have won 11 of those, and lost eight times in the Shire.

The first time that Charlton visited Oxford was in United’s inaugural Second Division season, in December 1968, with the Addicks winning 2-1. United’s first home win against Charlton was in October 1970, when goals from Ken Skeen and Derek Clarke earned the points for the U’s.

United earned successive 1-0 wins over Charlton at the Manor in 1976 and 1980, but they saved their best result over the Addicks for the 1984/85 promotion season, when the side scored five without reply, with five different scorers, in December 1984 as they soared to the Second Division title.

Following a 2-1 win over Charlton in October 1987, with Martin Foyle and Dean Saunders both on target [Watch HERE], United didn’t manage another home win against the Addicks until April 2019, when Curtis Nelson and Luke Garbutt (see top photo) turned around a 1-0 deficit to win the game, thanks also to an inspired double save by Jack Stevens on his Oxford debut [Watch HERE].

After a goalless draw in 2021, the U’s have now won three on the bounce at home to Charlton, with a 2-1 win in August 2021 that included a goal from current skipper Cameron Brannagan [Watch HERE], a 3-1 win in December 2022, featuring a Gatlin O’Donkor goal [Watch HERE], and the last time the sides met in Oxford, a 2-1 win in August 2023 thanks to a Tyler Goodrham double [Watch HERE].

You can see all United’s results against Charlton HERE.

On this Date

United have had 18 games on 14th March, winning six times and drawing three.

The earliest win was as Headington United at home to Kidderminster Harriers in the Southern League in 1956. By 1962 the side had changed its name to Oxford United and was on its way to a second successive Southern League title, helped by a 2-1 win at Cheltenham Town.

The first Football League match that Oxford had on this date was a 5-1 trouncing of Hartlepools United (as they were then called) in the Fourth Division in 1964. The next 14th March victory didn’t arrive until 1981, when the U’s went to Walsall and won 3-0.

There was a gap of 17 years before the next 14th March victory. Stoke were the visitors to the Manor in 1998 and the Potters were on the wrong end of a 5-1 hammering thanks to braces from Matt Murphy and Kevin Francis and a wicked Joey Beauchamp free kick [Watch HERE].

United’s most recent win on this date was as a Conference side in 2009, when they welcomed Grays Athletic to the Kassam. The 4-1 win included a James Constable brace [Watch HERE].

Oxford’s last match on 14th March was in 2017, when they lost 2-1 at Oldham Athletic [Watch HERE], although they should have had a home game against MK Dons in 2020, but the game was called off two days earlier due to a new virus called COVID-19 threatening the world.

For all United’s 14th March games, click HERE.

The Game

Following Oxford’s 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, the side has risen to 22nd in the table, on 38 points, behind Leicester City on goal difference and just a point adrift of Rovers and a further point below Portsmouth. Charlton also had a 1-0 win on Wednesday, a rather more spectacular victory at second-placed Middlesbrough that sees them in 17th place but nine points ahead of the U’s and just three below that magical 50-point marker that many consider the requirement for safety.

That win at Boro came after another 1-0 win, against Birmingham City, last Saturday, although they’d gone four without a win in their previous fixtures. No one needs reminding that in the reverse fixture at the Valley, Charlton beat United 1-0 in Gary Rowett’s last game in charge.

On that occasion, Oxford looked every inch like a League One bound side (and in truth, Charlton didn’t look much better), but following the change of manager, an influx of new players in January, and a new-found belief among the fans, I think it’s reasonable to assert that the current side is unrecognisable from that shambolic display in SE7 less than three months ago.

So, given the current run of three successive wins, and bearing in mind that this will be the fourth game in a fortnight, how should Oxford approach this one?

Clearly, the fact that the three wins have been achieved with an unchanged starting XI speaks volumes for the benefit of consistency and, all being well, it would be tempting to retain the same side. However, one has to take into account possible injuries and injury risks, as well as less tangible issues like potential fatigue, mental and physical, given the workload.

In their favour, Oxford do have a lot of young players in the team that bring energy and enthusiasm, especially in the forward positions, so I think it likely that Stan Mills, Jamie Donley, and Will Lankshear will all keep their places. Myles Peart-Harris too unless he is unable to start; he has looked more fatigued than usual in the last couple of games, but that might just be optics rather than an actual problem.

If any of those players do need to be rested, there are options within the squad, and I wouldn’t be totally against Nik Prelec replacing Lankshear, Aidomo Emakhu or Jeon Jin-Woo replacing MPH, and even Ole Romeny or Mark Harris performing Donley’s role (although that idea is less thrilling). If Przsemysłav Płacheta is fit, he is a possible Mills replacement, but having been out for a few weeks I’d be very reluctant to start him.

The midfield duo of Brannagan and Yunus Konak have been key to United’s recent success, and I can’t see why either would be replaced unless they are carrying a knock. Jamie McDonnell or, at a push, Will Vaulks could deputise for Konak, but who on earth could successfully replace Captain Cam? It’s noticeable that Oxford’s return to form coincided with his return from injury (after a couple of games for him to get into his stride) and with Brian De Keersmaecker out for the season, there isn’t really anyone who could pick up the Brannagan baton and run with it.

There is more flexibility in the back line, with decent replacements in most positions. Sam Long has pretty much done everything that could be expected of him at right back, but with Brodie Spencer and Hidde ter Avest ready and waiting there could be potential to switch things up there.

Since being recalled for the West Brom game, Michał Helik hasn’t put a foot (or head) wrong and has taken the chance handed to him as a result of Christ Makosso’s moment of indiscipline like a true pro. The good news is that Makosso is hardly a downgrade, should Helik need to be rested.

Ciaron Brown’s only real back up is Ben Davies, who hasn’t even been in the squad recently. Whether injured or not, who knows, but you do know that if called upon, he’ll be a steady influence at the back.

Jack Currie, who has been outstanding in the last few games, is the only one who doesn’t have a ready-made replacement. Ruben Roosken is more a wingback and I’m not sure he’s trusted to have the defensive discipline required, while the coaching staff might be regretting not registering Greg Leigh if Currie does pick up an injury. Brown can quite capably provide cover, but without Davies to slot into the centre-back berth that could be a problem – we all remember the Norwich game and the problems the side suffered as a result of Long being played there out of position.

And, of course, there’s Jamie Cumming between the sticks, with Matt Ingram proving himself in the Sunderland FA Cup game to be an able deputy if required.

In conclusion, without knowing the fitness status of the players, I would be tempted to leave the same starting line-up for the fourth game running – consistency breeds success. If there is to be any rotation, the forward foursome are probably the most flexible (and we haven’t even mentioned what’s his name – oh yes – Siriki Dembélé) and possibly also the least risky area where changes could be made.

Whoever is selected, we’re confident that the players will continue to give 100 per cent for as long as the side’s Championship status is under threat.

UTFO