If Oxford had just one bogey club (we don’t, we have several, but read on) then it might as well be Watford. The U’s have beaten the Hornets just three times in the previous 28 meetings between the sides, and only eight times in the clubs’ 41 encounters, including last season’s 1-0 win at the Kas.

United’s purple patch against Watford was in the late 1960s and early 1970s (in other words over 50 years ago) when the U’s won five of the sides’ eight fixtures. All three of Oxford’s most recent wins finished 1-0, including two matches at Vicarage Road. We’re not greedy, we’ll happily take another 1-0 win tomorrow.

Among the more memorable of those previous meetings were an FA Cup game at the Manor in 1971, when a crowd surge during a goalmouth melee as Oxford attacked the London Road end resulted in the wall at the front of the terrace giving way, causing a lengthy delay. Luckily, there were no serious injuries, with one boy receiving a broken leg. Watford gave him a free ticket to the replay after that clash ended 1-1, and he got to see Oxford win 1-0 to progress to the fifth round.

The wall at the London Road falls over against Watford in 1971

Ah, the good old days of FA Cup replays. We could wax lyrical at great FA Cup replays we have seen, and maybe we will in a future article. For now, though, we are fully concentrating on the league, and specifically Saturday’s game at Watford, where a young Tony Obi played the only 15 minutes of his Oxford career in a top-flight game in 1986.

Another FA Cup game was memorable for a different reason. In 1997, the third round tie was called off due to a frozen pitch just minutes before the game at Vicarage Road was due to kick off. At the rearranged game a couple of weeks later, the floodlights failed before the game started. An Oxford supporting electrician came to the rescue, fixing the lights so the game could go ahead. In the end, he probably regretted his decision.

The 1998/99 season proved a mare for both teams’ kit men. In November 1998 Oxford were forced to wear Watford’s away kit as they failed to bring their own, while in the return game at the Manor in March 1999, the visitors had to wear United’s shorts, presumably for the same reason.

Check out the sides’ complete head-to-head record, if you dare, HERE.

The Game

United travel to Watford for their third game in a week, and there will probably be at least one change to the starting line up after Filip Krastev was forced off with a knock at QPR on Wednesday. There’s no indication that it was a particularly nasty one, but there seems little point in potentially aggravating it, especially as this is the last game before yet another international break.

Krastev’s absence could see Gary Rowett give Siriki Dembélé a chance on the left wing, or there’s a possibility (slim, in our view) that Tyler Goodrham might get a recall, having been on the bench, unused, since the 2-2 draw with Coventry at the end of August.

There are a number of changes that Rowett might make if he wishes to freshen things up, including giving striker Will Lankshear a break after two rather disappointing performances against Sheffield United and QPR, with Nik Prelec operating up front as he did to reasonably good effect at Loftus Road. This would open the way for Luke Harris to be recalled into an attacking midfield role.

Another possibility is the option of giving Przsemysłav Płacheta a rest and starting Stan Mills on the right instead, although in his last couple of cameo appearances Mills didn’t really show that he’s worthy of a start just yet.

It’s less likely that Rowett will want to shake up the defence or midfield given the resilient display against QPR. He might decide to start Greg Leigh at left back in place of Jack Currie: a move that wouldn’t affect the team dynamic too much. Alternatively, Rowett may feel that Ben Davies should return at left centre-back, although it would be a brave man who would drop Sam Long on his current form, right footer or not.

Watford have won just twice this season, both times at home, beating both QPR and Hull 2-1. They have also lost at home to Norwich and Blackburn and drawn with Southampton. They sit in 16th place with nine points; an Oxford win would see the U’s leapfrog the Hornets on goal difference.

Watford’s last game, a 2-2 draw at Portsmouth, was mired in controversy as Nestory Irankunda was substituted in just the 35th minute, leading the Australian forward to hurl a water bottle into the dugout before storming down the tunnel. Even if, as alleged, he has made his peace with manager Paulo Pezzolano, it is unlikely that he will start tomorrow.

Like QPR, this is another away game that Oxford will be hopeful that they can come away with at least a point. Expect another tough game requiring more defensive solidity, while the midfield duo of Cameron Brannagan and De Keersmaecker will be key for United. The U’s will require a bit more from the forward players, though, if they are to score, following two games without a goal (and without even a shot on target against Rangers).

With the game preceding another boring international break, it would be great if the Yellows can come away with a point, which is what we’re predicting. Let’s go 1-1, although I wouldn’t be surprised at another goalless game.