It’s FA Cup day on Saturday, although it’s a shame that with their current form United have to take a break from league action. Oxford are at Colchester United who, like Cambridge the week after, have the temerity to call themselves the Us. With both clubs riding high in their respective divisions an exciting game is on the cards.

Oxford have some doubts about Steve Basham’s fitness after David McGurk gave him a hefty kicking last Saturday, for which the Darlington player received his first yellow card. Mark Rawle came on for Basham at half-time and played superbly, and will almost certainly start the game if Bash can’t. Matt Robinson won’t play as he serves a one-match ban for picking up five yellow cards so Danny Brown, who was rested for the reserves match at Cheltenham yesterday, looks likely to start at left wing-back.

The reserves drew 3-3 at Whaddon Road after going 2-0 up. Jamie Brooks scored the first goal, and his first since being stricken with Guillame-Barre syndrome over 16 months ago. Derek Townsley added a second only a minute later before the home side turned things around to level the scores. Jefferson Louis managed to put United ahead again, but Cheltenham equalised with seven mintes left to share the points. United featured a number of triallists, including Paul Chow from Jarrow Roofing and Andy Brownrigg, formerly of Rotherham, Kidderminster, Yeovil and Norwich.

Apart from the chance to say “yeeow” to Sam Stockley there’s not a lot to get excited about a trip to Layer Road, although being in Essex it’s reasonably close should Ian Atkins wish to pop over to visit Southend. The Shrimpers have allegedly made enquiries about taking the Oxford manager to replace Steve Wignall, following Firoz Kassam’s refusal to allow Southend to speak to Atkins earlier this season when Rob Newman left. With Kassam looking to sell United and Atkins’ contract ending at the end of the season it is thought that United’s manager needs a guarantee of job security in order to make a decision.

With all this excitement we almost forgot our compulsory wildly inaccurate prediction. Being as it’s the Cup and no-one really knows what they’re talking about, we’ll go for 2-2 and bringing the Essex boys back to Oxford for a replay.