It’s off to the Deva Stadium for managerless United this weekend, with caretaker Darren Patterson hoping that he can turn around the current run of crap results. At the time of writing no new players have been brought in to the squad, despite alleged attempts to entice at least two players to join the ranks of the condemned. One slight chink of light is that Tommy Mooney has recovered from the chest infection that caused him to miss United’s most recent embarrassment at home to Rochdale, and should be fit to lead the attack at Chester. Steve Basham has also recovered from the head injury he received against Dale.

Patterson will be forced into at least one change, as Sam Togwell has returned to Crystal Palace after a reasonably successful (depending on how you measure these things) loan month. Unless his omission from the side last week was for something sinister, we expect Dave Mackay to return to right-back duties. United’s reserves drew 0-0 at QPR in midweek (Rangers playing mostly youth-team players, so not quite as spectacular as might be assumed), with Jamie Brooks lasting the full 90 minutes, although we don’t expect him to be in the starting line-up tomorrow. Rob Wolleaston and Terry Parker also played as they attempt to come back following injury, although Wolleaston only lasted 70 or so minutes before getting too knackered. Also featured were David Woozley, Lee Molyneaux and Mark Rawle, but whether any of these make the squad won’t be known until tomorrow. Probably.

Chester used to be a bit of a collector’s club for United old-boys, but Phil Bolland is the only former U there now, since Ian Rush replaced Mark Wright. Chester’s style of play has been euphemistically described as “aggressive and direct”, which means they’re dirty bastards who like to hoof the ball forwards. This is undoubtedly a tactic that will work well against a frail United midfield and defence, and we don’t expect that Oxford will come away from the north with anything other than a defeat and a few bruises. We suspect another 2-0 defeat will be the result. At least next week we get a weekend off.