United have two games in quick succession over what has euphemistically been called the Festive Season. There will certainly be little in the way of Christmas Spirit being shown to Leyton Orient, whom United entertain on Boxing Day, and Southend United, whom Oxford visit on Sunday.

The Orient game is United’s sixth successive home Boxing Day fixture, which is nice, and Oxford will be hoping to emulate last season’s 3-0 drubbing of Bournemouth. Oxford currently have no injury or suspension worries, other than Andy Scott, who resumed full training this week, and Jamie Brooks, on loan at Maidenhead. Jon Ashton has apparently recovered from his twice-broken nose enough to be considered for selection, although there might still be a doubt over Dave Waterman, whose son Oakley’s illness prevented Waterman from travelling up to Huddersfield on Saturday.

Orient will have goalie Glenn Morris suspended and Greg Heald and Dave McGhee out injured. There should be a bumper crowd there to watch Oxford win by, ooh, three or four clear goals.

Thence to Roots Hall and a chance to show Southend what they’re missing by not having Ian Atkins as their manager or Mark Rawle up front. The Shrimpers will be without former United loanee Mark Warren, who is injured, and have also lost the services of Dave McSweeney, Mark Gower and Jay Smith, who were all sent off at Swansea in Southend’s 3-2 win there.

This being the season of hope, optimism and unrealistic dreams and ambitions, Rage Online is predicting that we’ll take maximum points from this weekend, with a 1-0 win in Essex. It would be sweet if the goal was scored by Rawle, but we’re not really too fussy.

Happy Christmas, one and all.