Ryan Ledson celebrates his last-gasp winner at the Valley in February 2018 (Photo: Darrell Fisher)

Into the Valley of Death rode the 2,500 (approx) as another large travelling contingent take advantage of the footy to avoid last-minute Christmas shopping and visit Charlton for what could well be one of the season’s pivotal games.

And, for Oxford fans, there could possibly be no better place for it. Despite United’s overall record at Charlton being nothing to shout about, with four wins and ten defeats (and 13 draws), in recent years the Valley has been one of Oxford’s happier hunting grounds.

Indeed, in the club’s last nine visits, they have lost just once and have notched up some impressive victories (in fact, all four of the Yellows’ wins over Charlton have taken place since Conor McAleny’s long-range drive earned the U’s a 1-0 win in February 2017.

Almost exactly a year later, a last-minute Ryan Ledson goal (see photo) put the polish on a 3-2 win for United. Another February game, in 2022, saw a rampant Oxford score four without reply, while most recently, on New Year’s Day 2024, another late goal, from Oisin Smyth, rounded off a 2-1 win for the U’s on their way to the League One play-offs.

The Valley is the third ground to have hosted an Oxford visit to play Charlton Athletic, with a 3-3 draw at Selhurst Park in November 1990 followed by a 2-2 draw at the Boleyn Ground in January 1992 as the Addicks served a period of exile from their home.

You can see Oxford’s full record against Charlton Athletic HERE.

On This Date

United have played just 11 games on 20th December, seven of them away from home. Oxford have won two and lost three of those seven.

The side’s first game on this date was also their first victory, as they beat Hereford United 2-1 at Edgar Street in the Southern League in 1952. The other win was in 1997 when they won 2-0 against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park.

United’s most recent game on 20th December was a 1-1 draw at Hartlepool United in 2014, Danny Hylton scoring Oxford’s goal.

The Match

To say that this game has a lot riding on it is something of an understatement. We might not be into must-win territory just yet, but with Charlton in 17th place, five points above Oxford with a game in hand, a United defeat would leave things looking very bleak indeed.

Charlton’s recent form should give Oxford cause for optimism. They lost five on the bounce before Tyreece Campbell came off the bench to rescue a points at Birmingham City last Saturday, while the U’s have lost two of their last six, a run that included that 2-1 win over Ipswich Town.

However, we all know how good Oxford are at ending other teams’ poor runs, so we can’t take anything for granted. Performances on the road have also been lacking, although the point gained at Blackburn Rovers last Tuesday was a step in the right direction.

We know that if the right United turn up the side has the ability to take the points and there is some good news on the injury front, with Przsemysłav Płacheta likely to be fit again to join the squad, and with both Brodie Spencer and Matt Phillips having been involved in full training for the past couple of weeks there’s every chance that one or both could be involved. We will have to wait until the New Year (possibly Sheffield United, almost certainly MK Dons) for Cameron Brannagan to be fit, but things are generally looking better.

Of course, what happens on the pitch will be determined by the tactics and players on the day. I can’t imagine Charlton will be as physical as Preston, so there may well be a recall for Jack Currie, while maybe Sam Long will come back into the defence as well. Of course, this means a return to a back four and possibly one of Ben Davies or Ciaron Brown missing out, both of whom have done okay recently.

Or will Gary Rowett retain a back five, with Stan Mills resuming at wing back – a role that he did surprisingly well in against Preston. Up front, surely Will Lankshear will start, with Nik Prelec alongside him. Does that mean Tyler Goodrham or Filip Krastev on the left? Neither are natural wingers, but then nor is anyone else in the squad. Siriki Dembélé is probably closest, but there appears to be something odd going on there and I don’t think we’ll see him in an Oxford shirt again.

Whatever happens on the pitch, this is going to be one hell of an away day. The atmosphere in the away end at the Valley is always a good one (let’s hope this doesn’t come back to bite us) and United always take a decent following. There’ll be a noise, that’s for sure.

The biggest crowd to have watch Oxford at the Valley is the 14,029 for that 4-0 win. Charlton haven’t had a crowd under 17,000 yet this season, so that’s likely to be well beaten. Let’s make it a day for Charlton fans to forget and Oxford fans to remember! UTFO