Shrimpers centre-half and all round cult hero, the one and only Bilel Mohsni, may not have had enough time to recover from the ankle injury he picked up in the 2-0 win at Cheltenham Town over two weeks ago.
Though every effort will be given to getting the French Tunisian fit his loss would be a major blow adding to the defection of two-goal scorer Jack Midson in that game at Whaddon Road, probably to sit on the bench against us, and midfielder Josh Simpson, who has returned to the loving arms of the Judas Fry and could be on the way to big spending, er, Crawley Town!
Goalkeeper Glenn Morris is expected to start after his own ankle knock while defender Peter Gilbert sits out, finally, the last of his three-game ban following his red card at Stevenage before the ice age decended on the UK once again.
Centre-back Mark Phillips (hernia) has returned to light training and might be on the subs bench but more likely to return next week.
With Simmo going I see Luggy starting with two wide-men who can drop back helping out Anthony and captain Craig in the middle.
Is winger Sofiene Zaaboub alive? Anyway, I've put him on the bench for cover out wide but if he is out expect another youth, maybe the recent 15-year-old signing, Lyle Della-Verde, also a left-footed wide player, be good to see. (The youth team are not down to play until Saturday, January 8th at Boots and Laces v Aldershot, their first game for nearly two months!)
So there you go, I've included Mohsni, well you've got to be half-full at this time of year, and against a team that's suffered five home defeats, and we've trained properly during the break this time around I can see us sneaking a 2-1 win. Without Bilel, I'll take a point!
Have a great new year, enjoy the game, before, during and after, and we'll all pray for a better 2011 for all the Shrimpers faithful.
It can't be as bad, can it?
Possible Southend United: Morris, Clohessy, Barker, Mohsni, Herd, Hall, Grant, Easton, Soares, Sturrock, Corr.
Subs: Evans, Ferdinand, Coughlan, Prosser, Zaaboub, Crawford, Paterson.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!
OPPOSITION
The U's have signed veteran midfielder Paul McLaren until the end of the season.
The 34-year-old was released by League One side Tranmere Rovers in November and had been on trial at the Kassam Stadium, and he replaces loanee Paul Wotton who has returned to Southampton.
The former Luton Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham United and Bradford City man has played in 496 Football League games!
McClaren told www.oufc.co.uk: "It is a great set-up here and I really want to play well and hope to break into the first team soon."
Oxford manager Chris Wilder added: "He has played his entire career in the Football League and has a lot of experience. He has a calming influence on the dressing room, is a good footballer and is great person to have in the squad."
Wilder can also welcome back striker Tom Craddock who finally completed his one-match ban in the win against Macclesfield on Tuesday after the previous game was called off.
Centre-back Jake Wright joins the squad after recovering from a broken foot, while fellow defender Leigh Franks, on loan from Huddersfield, remains a doubt with a hamstring injury.
| 8 | Torquay United | 19 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 29 | 21 | 28 | +8 | ||||
| 9 | Gillingham | 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 0 | ||||
| 10 | Crewe Alexandra | 19 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 18 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 40 | 28 | 26 | +12 | ||||
| 11 | Oxford United | 20 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 24 | 26 | -1 | ||||
| 12 | Macclesfield Town | 20 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 30 | 25 | -6 | ||||
| 13 | Stevenage | 19 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 20 | 16 | 24 | +4 | ||||
| 14 | Burton Albion | 19 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 23 | 24 | +3 | ||||
| 15 | Northampton Town | 20 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 29 | 24 | -6 | ||||
| 16 | Bradford City | 20 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 24 | -7 | ||||
| 17 | Southend United | 19 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 23 | 23 | -2 | ||||
| 18 | Stockport County | 21 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 11 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 22 | 40 | 23 | -18 |
Last time Out
Jack was on the bench!
Oxford United 2 Macclesfield 1 (played on Tuesday, December 28th, 2010);
Report: www.oufc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10342~52052,00.html
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GROUND
The club moved from the Manor Ground in the Summer of 2001, to the purpose built Kassam Stadium (named after the former Chairman Firoz Kassam). The stadium was built at a cost of around £15m and is located on the outskirts of Oxford. It has only three sides, with one end remaining unused. Each of the stands are of a good size, are all seated, covered and are roughly of the same height.
The South Stand on one side of the pitch, is a two tiered stand with a row of executive boxes. This is a particularly impressive looking stand with police control and press boxes situated at the back. Opposite is the single tiered North Stand, primarily given to away supporters. This has a number of strange looking floodlights protruding from its roof. At the one end is the Oxford Mail Stand, which is also single tiered.
There is a special type of pitch, one of the first to have artificial grass woven into the live turf. One disappointment is the large gaps in the corners, which sets the stands back from the playing surface and means cold winds whistling through in winter.
Away fans are housed on one side of the North Stand, towards the open end of the ground. This stand may be shared with home supporters, but more than likely will be given totally to the Shrimpers faithful.
There is not much around the ground in terms of pubs and eating establishments, so you may have to find such comforts within the ground itself.
The Kassam is light years away from the old Manor Ground. The facilities within and pitch view are excellent, and there is also good leg room. The atmosphere within the ground is not bad, with the Oxford fans in the Oxford Mail Stand doing their best to raise it.
TICKETS
If you haven't bought in advance it's £18.50 for Adults on the day, rip-off!
Full details here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw9/oxford_united_tickets_611845/index.shtml
WEATHER
Grey cloud, 6c's, looking good folks: http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/25
REF
The man in the middle is Chris Sarginson from Staffordshire.
A full interview with him here: http://refworld.com/referee/180/1/chris-sarginson
His assistants are Lee Collins and mark Waever; The fourth official is Marvin Thompson.
FIXTURES
League Two
Sunday, January 2nd; My Birthday, in pub.
Monday, January 3rd; (all kick-offs 15.00): Accrington Stanley v Chesterfield, Aldershot v Hereford, Bradford v Bury, Macclesfield v Rotherham, Northampton v Lincoln City, Port Vale v Burton Albion, Shrewsbury v Crewe, Southend v Cheltenham, Stevenage v Barnet, Stockport v Morecambe, Torquay v Oxford Utd, Wycombe v Gillingham.
BET
Not bad odds in a two-horse race considering Cheltenham.
Oxford (to win) - 11/10, Draw - 12/5, Southend (to win) - 3.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/oxford_united_573761/index.shtml
By Coach go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw3/oxford_united_606036/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking around the ground and in the town go here:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw8/
ride_the_white_horse_pub_crawl_in_oxford_613802/index.shtml
SOMEWHERE TO LAY YOUR HAT
For an overnight stay:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw1/oxford_united_611835/index.shtml
HISTORY
Oxford United was formed as Headington United in 1893, adding the suffix United the following year. It was created by Rev John Scott-Tucker, the vicar at Saint Andrew's church in Old Headington, and a local doctor named Robert Hitchings.
A football team was a way for the cricketers of Headington Cricket Club to maintain their fitness during the winter break. The first game played was against Cowley Barracks.
Headington had no regular home until 1913, when they were able to purchase Wootten's Field on London Road, but this was redeveloped in 1920. A permanent home was finally found in 1926, when they purchased the Manor Ground site on London Road.
The facility was used as a cricket pitch in the summer, and a football pitch in the winter, until the cricketers moved out during the 1940s.
In 1899, six years after their formation, Headington United joined the Oxfordshire District League Second Division, where they competed until the outbreak of the First World War; the Second Division was renamed the Oxfordshire Junior League after the resumption of football in 1919.
In 1921 the club was admitted into the Oxon Senior League. The first season included a 9-0 victory, with 8 goals coming from P. Drewitt. This remains a record for the highest number of goals scored by an Oxford player in a first-team match.
A move into professional football was first considered during the second season. Vic Couling, the president at the time, had applied for Headington to become a member of a new Second Division in the Southern League. Other teams that applied included Weymouth, Kettering Town and future league side Cambridge United.
Despite the plans being postponed, the First Division was going to be expanded by two clubs; Weymouth and Headington were elected. It was later discovered that Llanelli had just one fewer vote than Headington.
They played their first season in the Southern League in 1949, the same year they turned professional. Former First Division forward Harry Thompson was hired as manager.
The club installed floodlights in 1950, the first professional club in Britain to do so, and the first floodlit game was held on 18 December against Banbury Spencer.
Headington United initially played in orange and blue shirts, but changed to yellow home shirts for the 1957-58 season. The reason for the change is unknown. In 1960, Headington United was renamed Oxford United, to give the club a higher profile.
Oxford United finished eighteenth in the 1985-86 First Division campaign, avoiding relegation on the last day of the season.
They also won the Football League Cup, known at the time as the Milk Cup under a sponsorship deal, beating Queens Park Rangers 3-0 in the final at Wembley. They would have qualified for the UEFA Cup the following season, had it not been for the ban on English teams that had resulted from the previous year's Heysel Stadium disaster.
After beating fellow First Division side Aston Villa in the semi-final 4-3 on aggregate, Oxford faced Queens Park Rangers in the final, which was held at Wembley Stadium on 20 April 1986. The final result was 3-0 with goals from Trevor Hebberd, Ray Houghton and Jeremy Charles.
After the match, manager Maurice Evans asked long-serving physiotherapist, 72-year-old Ken Fish, to collect a winner's medal instead of himself. It was the last time the League Cup was played under the name "Milk Cup".
1986-87 saw Oxford United survive another relegation battle and stay in the First Division. Robert Maxwell resigned as chairman in May 1987 to take over at Derby County, handing the club to his son Kevin. Maurice Evans was sacked in March 1988 with Oxford bottom of the First Division and destined for relegation after three years in the top flight.
They remain the only cub to have played in the top flight to end up in the Conference.
Now managed by former Halifax Town boss Chris Wilder. Wilder's arrival for the 2008/09 Blue Square Premier season lead to 15 wins from the next 21. A 5-point deduction for fielding an unregistered player resulted in a seventh-place finish, four points and two places short of the play-offs.
Oxford led the table for most of the first half of the 2009-10 season but dropped into the playoff places by the end of the season, finishing third. They beat Rushden & Diamonds over two legs to advance to the playoff final against York City, the club's second-ever visit to Wembley Stadium and their first to the new stadium.
On May 16, 2010, Oxford won the Conference National play-off Final against York City, beating them 3-1 to return to the Football League for the 2010-11 season. The attendance was over 33,000, notably large for a non-League club.
Oxford's first game in the return to the Football League was away to Burton, which finished in a 0-0 draw. Oxford got their first win back in the Football League on September 4th against Morecambe at the Kassam Stadium, winning 4-0, thanks to a James Constable hat-trick.
(For a more comprehensive history of the club, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_United.)