Oxford are back in action tomorrow evening after a ten-day absence from footy action. Indeed, there hasn’t been any action at all worth reporting from the KasStad, as United remain under the caretakership of Darren Patterson. Chris Turner is the current hot favourite for the manager’s job after a report in today’s Daily Mirror that he is due to be appointed in time for Saturday’s match against Cambridge, and following the appointment today of Danny Wilson as the new boss of Franchise FC. Patterson will be hoping that the lads do the business against Swansea tomorrow to give himself a chance of the hot-seat.

The prolonged rest has meant that United should have an almost fully fit squad to choose from, with a minor doubt over Steve Basham, who has suffered from laryngitis, an Mark E’Beyer, who took a couple of knocks in Oxford’s last game, at Chester. Whether this means that Patto will be encouraged to bring back Tom Winters onto the left wing isn’t known, nor whether Chris Hackett will return to action on the right wing. If he does play it could throw up the tantalising proposition of seeing Hackett playing against former United lad Sam Ricketts, one of Chrissy’s ex-youth team mates, who has been playing at left back for the Swans recently. Swansea also feature former Us’ loanee Gary Monk, who has just returned from a two-match suspension. Definitely out for Swansea are the suspended Andy Robinson, and the injured Brad Maylett, James Thomas, and Leon Hylton.

Although spirits are apparently high in the United camp following the win at Chester, it should be remembered that, despite having lost their last two league games, Swansea are still second in the table, and just got a respectable draw at third division Stockport in the FA Cup. Of course the Oxford lads will be hoping to impress any possible managers-in-waiting (and it is alleged that Chris Turner will be watching the game) and so could turn on the style. Oxford have only lost once in the last ten meetings between the sides, but as we know, history and tradition don’t count for anything in the socialist world of football. Unfortunately realism intervenes, as ever, in our prediction and we reckon the points will go Walesward, by 2-0.