United visit the Vetch tomorrow evening to take on 8th placed Swansea. The last time Oxford won there was on Remembrance Day 2000 (remember) when a stunning shot from Joey Beauchamp (remember) and a debutant goal from loanee Keith Andrews secured a 2-1 win.

Oxford are a point clear of second placed Hull, but have played two games fewer and so have a bit of breathing space. This is fortunate because, with Ian Atkins having just won the Manager of the Month award for December it is likely that a lean January awaits.

Swansea will be without Karl Connelly, but notorious Thatcherite Leon Britton is likely to play along with Brad Maylett who have both had injury problems recently. There’s bad news for United, who will be without Julian Alsop who starts a five game suspension for his sending off at Huddersfield. This should open the door for one of Mark Rawle, Lee Steele or Jefferson Louis, so perhaps it’s not such bad news after all.

Swansea, fresh (or maybe knackered) from their 2-1 win over Macclesfield in the FA Cup on Saturday, have been given a home tie against either Preston or Reading in the 4th round. Hopefully this will prove enough of a distraction to allow United, who have had a nine day rest, to complete their second double of the season. Are we optimistic, or are we pessimistic? Oh, it’s a new year, let’s be optimistic: one-all.