Oxford make the long trip north to Darlington on Saturday, in yet another futile attempt to turn their season around. This is United’s first visit to the newly-built Reynolds Arena, named after megalomaniac former Darlington chairman Bill Arena. This magnificent edifice holds 27,000 fans, and is regularly unpacked to the rafters by Darlington’s footballing faithful, when they’re not busy watching Sunderland, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, or Hartlepool, all of whom are in a higher division.

Once again, we daren’t even hazard a guess at Graham Rix’s selection or tactics. We just hope that in his five games in charge he has at least learned some things, such as David Waterman’s limitations at right back, Courtney Pitt’s limitations at left wing, and the whole squad’s limitations on the football pitch. A win is, yet again, vital for United if they want to finish in the play-offs. A defeat could see United out of the play-off zone, for the first time this season, should Northampton win at home to Southend (which is more likely than Oxford winning in Darlington). Once again, we can only wonder whether there’s a place for Barry Quinn, or whether Richard Walker will get a look-in. Amid all the rumours of player discontent and fall-outs with Rix, or Ian Atkins, or Firoz Kassam, the danger is that whatever line-up is chosen it will make no difference anyway.

Darlo are currently fourth from bottom, just three points above the drop zone. Darlington’s last home game saw them beat Mansfield 1-0, and to be honest we can’t see Oxford doing any better than the Stags. In fact, we reckon they’ll go one further, and lose 2-0. So, if we’re wrong we’ll be happy.