Southend United will be hoping to make it two wins out of two on Saturday, for the first time in the league this season, as they prepare to tackle Oxford United.
Oxford currently lie 17th in the Nationwide League Division Three table on 41 points five places and three points behind Blues. Currently managed by Ian Atkins, after Mark Wright resigned from the club in November over allegations that he racially abused match referee Jo Ross during Oxford's match v Scunthorpe United.
Oxford gained an important 1-0 victory at Macclesfield Town on Tuesday night thanks to a Paul Powell goal, their third away win on the road this season. Included in Oxford's line up will be former Blues players Dave Morley and Andy Woodman with both players currently on loan at the Kassam Stadium from Colchester United and Carlisle United respectively.
Oxford United have been very much a bogey side to Southend at Roots Hall over the years. Of their ten league visits so far they have come away victorious on five occasions. The U's first visit to Roots Hall came in the 1965/66 season, a season that saw Blues come out on top 2-1. After that the clubs went their separate ways and would not meet up in the league again until the 1978/79 season where once again Blues came out on top winning 2-0 with Derrick Parker and Gerry Fell on the scoresheet. The following season produced a 1-1 draw before Oxford secured their first ever league victory at Roots Hall courtesy of an Andy Thomas goal in the 1981/82 season. A 2-1 Oxford victory in season 1982/83 and then a 1-0 victory in season 1983/84 followed. Fortunately for Blues Oxford were promoted to the old Division Two that season and their paths would not cross again until the 1991/92 season. In the meantime Oxford had spent three seasons in the top division and won the League (Milk) Cup at Wembley in 1984 with a 3-0 win over QPR, but would still prove to be a big thorn in Blues backside winning 3-2. Brett Angell had given Blues a 23rd minute lead but three goals in nine minutes condemned Blues to another defeat. Come the 1992/93 season Blues supporters would be sick of the sight of Oxford United as they made it five wins out of five at Roots Hall with their biggest win so far 3-0. However, Blues made up for those defeats the following season with the help of a Tommy Mooney hat-trick as Blues ran out emphatic 6-1 winners. Not surprisingly Oxford were relegated that season but were back in the new Division One in season 1996/97 where a 2-2 draw ensued. Although Blues should have seen victory in this encounter while leading 2-0 with ten minutes remaining, thanks to goals from Jerone Boere and Mike Lapper, Leo Roget got himself sent off for a second yellow card. This stirred Oxford into action and goals from Nigel Jemson and John Aldridge on 82 and 87 minutes ensured the points were shared. Oxford's last visit to Roots Hall came in the 1999/2000 season where a Worthington Cup 1st round 1st leg tie saw Oxford win, once again 2-0. So not only will Blues have to be on top of their game to gain a win this afternoon they're going to have to have to remove that Indian sign that Oxford currently hold over Blues at the Hall.