Tyler Goodrham scores United’s equaliser against Millwall last season (Photo: Steve Daniels)

United return to home soil tomorrow to face two games in quick succession against teams that occupy the play-off places (well at least until we play them haha). First up, on Saturday, it’s Gary Rowett’s former club Millwall. That’s followed on Tuesday night by Stoke City.

Although the U’s haven’t lost the last four games against the Lions – indeed, the Den was the scene of United’s first away win last season on New Year’s Day – they haven’t beaten them on home turf since Stuart Massey’s FA Cup goal in January 1996. That’s seven games ago, and you have to go back a further two games to 1993 for the last team Oxford beat Millwall at home in the league.

Oxford’s record against the Londoners has always been a bit sporadic. Out of the 56 times the sides have met, the U’s have won 19 to Millwall’s 23, and games in the Shire have been quite even, with Oxford winning 12 to the Lions’ 11 victories.

Check out United’s record against Millwall HERE.

On 1st November

The good news, for people who enjoy this sort of thing, is that Oxford have only ever lost twice at home on 1st November, a 2-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in 2014, and a 3-2 reverse to Hull in 1975, the first time the U’s had a home game on this date. United have won four home games and drawn two on the day after Hallowe’en. Spooky, eh. These include a 3-0 hammering of Stoke City in 1989.

Away from home the record isn’t so good. The last away game on this date turned out to be His Holiness Jim Smith’s last game in charge as the U’s went down 5-0 at Rushden & Diamonds, the bastards. Oxford have won just twice away (both games in the Southern League years) and lost four of the away games. In the top flight, United drew 0-0 at Newcastle in 1986.

Click HERE to see United’s full 1st November record.

The Match

The last time Oxford were at home, against Derby County on 18th October, the side produced an excellent display with the 1-0 scoreline flattering the visitors, who had to rely on goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom to keep the score down.

With United’s most recent game also producing three points with a 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday, some fans can be forgiving for approaching this game with something resembling optimism.

However, optimism might not be the order of the day when you consider that Millwall are third in the table, have won their last four games, and have yet to taste defeat on the road. Shit. When you look at it like that, we may as well not bother, right?

However, this is football, and we all know that this wonderful game often throws up results that no one expects, so let’s not give up just yet.

Oxford do have further reason to be cautious. Two players were forced off the field at Hillsborough: Brodie Spencer was replaced by Sam Long and captain Cameron Brannagan had to go off for Will Vaulks. Neither injured player is likely to be available tomorrow, which might force Gary Rowett to consider his options, with Brannagan’s absence being especially worrisome. What are the odds on this being the game we’re awarded a penalty?

It’s not lack of personnel that’s the problem: Spencer can be replaced by Sam Long, assuming Hidde ter Avest is still out or only ready for the bench, while in central midfield there’s Vaulks, Louie Sibley or Filip Krastev who can come in and do a decent enough job.

But it’s Brannagan’s never-say-die personality that sets him apart from his team mates. If the side is up against it and you need someone to rally the troops, he’s your man. As we saw in Sheffield, when he went off the side lost its shape and were pushed back by Wednesday. I’m not certain there’s anyone else in the squad who can replace that.

As for Millwall, we come up against an old friend in goalkeeper Max Crocombe, who has endeared himself to Lions’ fans with a string of decent displays, including clean sheets in his last two games against Stoke City and Leicester City – two decent sides at this level. Obviously, we’re hoping that this is where his luck runs out and he has a ‘mare, but otherwise we wish him all the best. Always nice to see an Academy graduate go on to greater things.

Do we dare predict a result? If forced, under duress, I would probably plump for a draw. We then have the chance to go one better against Stoke on Tuesday.