Trevor Hebberd on target at Huddersfield in August 1984

United’s season continues, belatedly, on Tuesday with a trip to Huddersfield Town, currently second in League One.

It certainly won’t be an easy game: The U’s have won just one of their 13 visits to Huddersfield, in the opening game of Oxford’s Championship-winning 1984/85 season. United beat the Terriers 3-0 at their old Leeds Road ground, with goals from John Aldridge, Trevor Hebberd (pic above), and an own goal by David Burke. And, wouldn’t you know it, there are no YouTube highlights of the occasion.

Since Huddersfield moved to the McAlpine Stadium (now called, somewhat weirdly, the Accu Stadium) Oxford have drawn just twice there, including their first visit in September 1994, when goals from Paul Moody, Mark Druce, and Anton Rogan contributed to an entertaining 3-3 draw. This was the inaugural season for the stadium, when it had just three stands. How bizarre is that…

Oxford’s next visit was in March 1997, when Huddersfield won 1-0. This was followed in January 1998 by United’s worst capitulation (so far) to the Terriers, when a Martin Gray goal was a mere consolation as the Championship’s bottom side put five past the U’s.

Another defeat followed in October 1998, when Huddersfield scored two past the Yellows without reply to go top of the table.

The last time the Yellows visited Huddersfield, in December 2003, they came away with a rare point thanks to Mark Rawle’s equalising header. At least that goal isn’t as wobbly as the rest of the footage.

The Match

Huddersfield moved to second in the table thanks to their 2-1 win at Cambridge United on Saturday, when Oxford were without a game after their match at home to Reading was moved by the police for some spurious reason. Cambridge took the lead with ten minutes remaining, but two goals from Jack Taylor, the second an 89th-minute penalty, earned Town the points.

The Terriers have played just one home game so far this campaign, a 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon during which Bali Mumba was shown a straight red card, meaning he misses the Oxford match (I think).

United go into the transfer-deadline-day game without winger Stan Mills, who – despite claims that he would remain until January – was sold to Preston North End for north of £2.5 million before the weekend. Oxford have, however, been permitted by the EFL to use Mills’ departure as a reason to sign the highly rated midfielder Kai Andrews on loan from Coventry until January.

If further players depart ahead of tomorrow night, it is to be hoped that the EFL give the club dispensation to do similar one-out/one-in deals, should the club have identified any possible replacements.

There are rumours that Greg Leigh is subject to a bid from Burton Albion, although we all know how believable football rumours are. The only other player linked with a move is Brian De Keersmaecker, who has not played any minutes for United since his injury in January. He had an operation on his shoulder that didn’t go well, so he then had a follow-up operation which obviously set back his recovery time. He is now back training with the club but is the subject of a couple of offers, one from the UK and another from Germany, although we understand that he is fully focused on regaining his place in the Oxford squad.

The other question mark surrounding the side is the fitness of goalkeeper Jamie Cumming. He received a groin injury towards the end of United’s 2-2 opening-day draw with Milton Keynes. He nevertheless started in the side’s win at Stevenage but had to go off after just seven minutes, to be replaced by former Huddersfield keeper Simon Eastwood.

Of Oxford’s other two former Terriers, Michał Helik came in for Sam Long to play the full game at Stevenage, while Brodie Spencer replaced Jack Currie at left-back with just two minutes of normal time remaining.

For Huddersfield, former United midfielder Marcus McGuane is a long-term absentee, while Ryan Ledson is a regular, having played in all four of their games so far this season.

This is a difficult game to call, coming as it does so early in the season. The home side will pose a different threat to that of MK or Stevenage and could well be one of the teams fighting it out at the top of the division come the season’s end. This is obviously also where Oxford will be wanting to compete, however, given the embargo situation, that might be easier said than done.

Clearly, United’s first-choice line-up is a strong one for League One, but as the season goes on and injuries start to take their toll, will the club have enough squad depth to enable them to ride out any bumps in the road. I suspect not, especially up front, where the squad is very light. Hopefully, the injured duo of Jeon Jin-Woo and Ruben Roosken are well on their way to recovery, but to rely on no one else getting crocked in the meantime is surely wishful thinking.

We can see Oxford coming away with something from Huddersfield, and any point away from home to one of the likely contenders is something to be hugged, but we can also envisage a defeat at a difficult venue. Let’s hope that our uncharacteristic pessimism is misplaced.