Future Swansea player Nick Cusak celebrates scoring for United at the Vetch in 1993 (a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup)

Oxford United travel to Swansea City on Saturday hoping to extend their three-game unbeaten run.

Last time out, United took on Ipswich Town and beat them 2-1 thanks to a first-half strike from Mark Harris – his first goal since March – and a second-half winner from Przsemysłav Płacheta.

That came on the back of consecutive 1-1 draws, at home to Middlesbrough and then away at Norwich City.

United’s record at Swansea isn’t too bad, to be honest. Of the 13 games played in west Wales, Oxford have won three and lost four. Last season, in the campaign’s final game, both teams were already safe when they shared the honours with a pulsating 3-3 draw. Former Swan Płacheta was on the scoresheet in that match too, calmly steering the ball home for Oxford’s late equaliser.

That remains one of my favourite games from last season. Not particularly for the result or the actual football, but more because it was such a relaxed vibe and both sets of fans seemed to really appreciate each other. Long may it continue. That match was also Oxford’s first visit to the Swansea.com Stadium.

United’s last win in Wales came in 1994, on Remembrance Day. Scorers for Oxford were Keith Andrews and Joey Beauchamp, in case you forgot.

In fact, United have lost just two of their last nine games in Swansea. Click HERE for the full record between the sides.

On This Day

United have lost four times on 6th December, three of them away from home. Most recently in 1997, we forget who the opposition were. Of the six away games on this date, two of them were wins for our boys.

The first away win was 2-1 at Loftus Road in 1969, where Ken Skeen and Colin Harrington goals earned the victory over QPR. The other away win on 6th December was also by 2-1, Steve Basham and Eric Sabin on target at Whaddon Road against Cheltenham Town in 2005.

Oxford’s most recent game on this date was a 1-1 draw at Southend United, where Chris Maguire scored in 2016.

Check out all United’s 6th December games HERE.

The Match

Saturday’s game falls on left-back Jack Currie’s 24th birthday. An auspicious date that we will be marking with a curry of our own.

As noted in the introduction, the U’s are unbeaten in their last three games. Swansea City, on the other hand, have lost their last five games – including at home to Ipswich and Derby County – resulting in the appointment of new manager Vitor Matos (no relation to former United midfielder Alex, we believe), who has lost both his two games so far.

The Swans are in 21st place in the Championship, one place and one point worse off than Oxford. This makes Saturday’s game huge for both clubs. A win for Swansea will see them leapfrog the U’s, while if it’s the Mighty Yellows with the three points it will open up a four-point gap to the bottom three. A draw won’t do either side much good, although would be better for United than it would for Swansea.

Oxford will still be without the injured Cameron Brannagan, Brodie Spencer, and Matt Phillips, although Dutch right-back Hidde ter Avest is fit enough to be included after being rested for Friday’s game against Ipswich.

There are some interesting decisions for Gary Rowett to make. Does he stick with Swansea-born Sparky up front following his goal against the Tractor Boys, or does he swap him for Will Lankshear, the side’s leading goalscorer this season with five.

Who will comprise the other three forwards behind the front man (assuming Rowett opts for his usual 4-2-3-1 formation)? Siriki Dembélé and Nik Prelec – through not being selected – have failed to make a case for inclusion, while Płacheta and Stan Mills have both done well enough to continue on the right wing and Filip Krastev and Tyler Goodrham have put in decent performance in the last couple of games for inclusion on the left. Luke Harris is likely to be given the #10 position, although both Krastev and Ole Romeny have done well when playing there recently.

Ter Avest is another possibility in midfield, having done well there at Norwich, while Sam Long is likely to retain his place at right-back. I think it’s unlikely that we’ll see any changes across the back four or to the midfield duo of Will Vaulks and Brian De Keersmaecker, with the latter in particular impressing on Friday.

Last time out I got it horribly wrong with my prediction of a home defeat to Ipswich. Let’s hope I get this one right then as I think Rowett will prove too wily for the young, unproven Matos and will guide the U’s to a vital away win. Possibly with United’s best scoreline since promotion – let’s go for 3-0 and a birthday goal for Jack Ruby Murrie.

Will we finally get a penalty at the 71st time of asking? No.