Top of the table Southend visit the KasStad tomorrow, with rumours of them possibly bringing up to 1800 supporters as they try to consolidate their position. The last time a top-of-the-league team came to Oxford saw Yeovil beaten 2-1, with goals from Tommy Mooney and Craig Davies, back in mid-January. A similar result tomorrow will be reasonably satisfying.

Horacio Rodriguez has, unusually for him, already announced United’s line-up. Mooney is recalled to the side to face his former team, following his rest last week, while Jon Ashton, now recovered from injury, will partner Paul Wanless at the back. Emiliano Diaz made way for Mooney. Chris Tardif is well enough to continue in goal following his head injury at the Vetch last Friday, and Lee Bradbury continues on the left wing, with ROS Chrissy Hackett on the right. For those Oxford players who are out of contract at the end of the season this could be a big game, as contract talks started yesterday with Firoz Kassam. Allegedly, tomorrow could also see the return of Ramon Diaz, who has (also allegedly) sorted out his work permit problems.

Southend won 2-1 at Macclesfield on Tuesday night to go top of division four, with two Alan McCormack goals negating former Oxford player Dave Morley’s opener. For that game Steve Tilson brought in Lawrie Dudfield and Luke Guttridge for Mark Gower and Wayne Gray, and as that gamble paid off it is likely that he will stick with the same starting eleven tomorrow. The danger-man is Fredy (that’s right, just the one d) Eastwood, who was signed from non-league Grays just last October, and who is now their leading scorer with 13 league goals. United will probably be happy with a draw, but we expect the Shrimpers to win 2-1, cos we’re pessimistic like that.

Finally, Rage Online would like to express our sorrow and sympathy to the family of Oxford City’s Robin Antonowicz, who died in hospital on Wednesday following his car crash last Friday.