Eddie Odhiambo scores against Cambridge in February 2007

It’s sixth against fourth in League One this Saturday as Cambridge United make their way to the Kassam Stadium for what will hopefully be Oxford’s third successive win. Cambridge, of course, have had a great start to the season following their promotion from League Two last time around.

One of the toughest things about writing this preview is that the teams share a suffix and a nickname, so referring to United or the U’s could be confusing. Assume, therefore, that (unless stated otherwise) we are referring to Oxford in case of any ambiguity.

The two sides have a history dating back to when they were both in the Southern League Premier and Oxford were on the verge of promotion to the Football League in 1962. That first meeting, at the Manor is September 1961, ended with the spoils shared, with Peter Knight and Graham Atkinson (a future Cambridge player) scoring for the U’s (see).

The sides met again, almost 15 years later in August 1976 in the League Cup first round, first leg, when Mick Tait scored the only goal of the game, although Cambridge won the second leg 2-0 to advance to the second round. The following season, in January 1978, Cambridge secured the first of just two wins in Oxford as they beat United (see) 3-2 in Headington.

The next four United home games against the other U’s all went Oxford’s way, starting with Andy Melville’s only goal of the game in February 1992. Notably, Chris Allen made his Yellows debut in this match and provided a man-of-the-match performance.

Seven months later, in September, United went even better, smashing three past the visitors without reply, although Jim Magilton was shown a red card for retaliating after a horror tackle from that nice Paul Raynor. Scorers for Oxford were Magilton from the penalty spot, David Penney, and that Chris Allen.

In August 1994 it took an unstoppable Paul Moody penalty to secure the points for the U’s after that man Chris Allen was brought down. Cambridge must have loved playing against him.

The fourth in this run of wins came on Boxing Day 1999, when Matt Murphy scored the only goal in a League One (equivalent) encounter. For some reason, no YouTube footage of this game seems to exist.

The next three games between the sides in Oxford all ended as draws, with the first, in September 2000, notable for the rare sight of a Lee Jarman goal, securing United’s first point of the season in a 1-1 draw.

The sides’ first meeting at the Kassam also finished 1-1, with Jefferson Louis scoring for United in March 2003. Just over a year later, in April 2004, the sides shared four goals between them, with Louis again on target for the U’s, along with Paul McCarthy.

Oxford were back to winning ways against Cambridge in December 2004, when Ramón Díaz took charge of the U’s for the first time. This new era got off to a flying start thanks to goals from Tommy Mooney and Craig Davies, celebrated with Latin flair in the dugout.

A 1-1 draw in February 2007, in which Eddie Odhiambo scored for Oxford (main pic, top) was followed in March 2008 by Cambridge’s second win in the Shire, Matty Green’s goal being a consolation in a 2-1 reverse.

United were back to winning ways against Cambridge in September 2008, the 3-1 victory courtesy of goals from Adam Murray, Jamie Guy, and orange bombshell Lewis Haldane. Following a goalless draw in April 2010, with the U’s on their way back to the Football League via the play-offs, Cambridge haven’t won so much as a point in the six clashes since.

The sides met in League Two in April 2015, with Kemar Roofe and Danny Hylton on target for the promotion-bound U’s.

Meaning the next meeting, in November 2015, came in League One, when Ryan Taylor’s goal earned the Yellows a 1-0 win and help condemn Cambridge to relegation.

By January 2021, the oppo were back in League One and playing games in empty stadiums due to the Covid pandemic. On this occasion, it was Rob Hall’s strike direct from a free-kick that was the difference between the two teams.

In contrast, there were over 10,000 in the Kas in February 2022 as United scored four against Cambridge, who managed two in reply. The scorer of the goal that gave the visitors the lead was a knob, but Matty Taylor equalised for the U’s. Knobbo restored Cambridge’s lead in the second half, but that Oxford responded with three goals from Cameron Brannagan, Sam Baldock, and Brannagan again-agan.

In August 2022 it was just 1-0 to United, but the significance of the scoreline was that it was a first goal for young Tyler Goodrham, giving Karl Robinson an excuse to join in with the celebrations.

The last time the sides met, in December 2023, Goodrham was on the scoresheet again, along with Ciaron Brown, as Oxford came back from a goal down to run out 2-1 winners on their way to promotion to the Championship.

The Match

But here we are, back again in League One and, along with Cambridge, among the early front runners. Thanks to AFC Wimbledon’s goalless draw with the false Dons, Oxford have dropped a place to sixth, a point behind both the Wombles and Cambridge, albeit with two games in hand on the real Dons and one game in hand on Cambridge, and three points adrift of league leaders Sheffield Wednesday (with a game in hand.

As mentioned earlier, the U’s have won their last two games, beating Leicester 4-0 at the King Power with a sparkling performance before turning it on late in the day to beat Burton Albion 3-0 last time out.

Cambridge themselves are unbeaten in three games. An impressive 2-1 win at Bradford City was followed by a 2-2 draw at Burton. Last weekend they came from a goal down to beat Reading 2-1 at the Abbey. However, they may be concerned that they have yet to keep a clean sheet this season. Like Oxford, though, they are sharing the goals around with three players sharing the leading-scorer title with just two goals apiece.

Interestingly, Cambridge boss Neil Harris could have been an Oxford player. United tried to sign him from Cambridge City in 1997 but because he could make more money playing part time and working in Cambridge, he turned us down. About a year later, he turned up at Millwall and became a Lions legend.

United’s injury situation remains unchanged from last weekend, with Frankie Kent the only long-term absentee and Ruben Roosken and Jeon Jin-Woo both due back in around a month or so. Aidomo Emakhu will probably return after the international break (that’s right kiddos, no football – apart from the Football League Trophy trip to Exeter – until 10th October after this Saturday).

United have had five players called up to represent their countries, with the Northern Ireland trio of Brown, Brodie Spencer, and Jamie McDonnell, and Wales striker Mark Harris, joined by on-loan midfielder Kai Andrews, who has been chosen to join the Wales U21 squad. This means Greg Leigh misses out for Jamaica and, disappointingly, the revitalised Peter Kioso doesn’t get to play for the DRC again.

With the probable exception of Leigh, all those mentioned are likely to feature again on Saturday, although it remains to be seen how Aaron Ramsey chooses to organise the full-backs. Both Kioso and Spencer started against Burton, but with Sam Long and Jack Currie potentially in the frame, it leaves room for rotation.

Another possible change in between the sticks, where Simon Eastwood has performed admirably following Jamie Cumming’s injury. Will Easty get to keep his shirt, or will Cumming get a recall?

Likewise, with Luka Lynch likely to be back involved after being rested last weekend, will wunderkind Mo Missanga retain his place on the right wing? There is also a good argument for Gatlin O’Donkor to start ahead of Mark Harris and Tyler Goodrham to come in for either Andrews or McDonnell, so nothing is certain.

That said, I believe it’s more likely that AzzaRazza will stick with the starting line-up that has won two games on the bounce, using the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ tactic that occasionally works. With the international break coming up, it gives the squad a good opportunity for a well-deserved break (those called up for international duty excepted), so there should be no danger of overstretching the players. Maybe leave the tinkering until the Notts County game on 10th October.

Given Cambridge’s start to the campaign, this will be a tough test for United, but one that I’m sure they’re more than capable of passing. Under Ramsey, the squad has shown a togetherness and sense of purpose that was lacking in many of the Championship games. The adversity of the transfer embargo has given the club a backs-against-the-wall mentality that will stand it in good stead for the season ahead and, while there will doubtless be days where things won’t go Oxford’s way, I remain convinced that the Huddersfield result and performance are unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.

UTFO.