Southend United v Oxford United

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SHRIMPERS

With Ryan Leonard telling the Echo; 'Hopefully the gaffer will recall me for the weekend. It's a massive game and I really want to play.'

Maybe he will, with Bilel Mohsni serving out his one-match suspension there is a vacancy, and Ryan would slot out wide, however, I'm going for Bomber to return, he's certainly had a decent rest, with Ryan going out left once again.

But it's working as it is?

For sure, but Oxford boss Wilder is no mug, maybe it's time to change formations around again, with JP and Ferdy we have enough defensive cover for the back four, the fourth placed team are dangerous going forward, and the experience of harris in such a tough clash will be priceless.

The team, and I have said this before so expect half-a-dozen changes, should then pick itself.

Luke looks a very comptant shot stopper and Barker and Phillips are in great form, which they will have to continue on Saturday.

The U's had some luck last Saturday, hopefully they've used it all up for us, and, surely, Leven can't score a goal like that again, so I'm looking to the Shrimpers to continue their unbeaten run and even sneak the three points 2-1.

Staying top? Hereford will have to play very well to take something off the creepies so continuing with winning ways could prove vital.

Possible Southend United: Daniels, Clohessy, Phillips, Barker, Gilbert, Kalala, Ferdinand, Timlin, Hall, Dickinson, Harris.

Subs: Bentley, Leonard, Grant, Sawyer, Johnson.

COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!

50k hits & more, join us at S24: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk

OPPOSITION

One in and one out for Oxford: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk

U's boss Chris Wilder will be without in-form loanee striker Robert Hall who has returned to West Ham, to be replaced by fellow forward Jonathan Franks, who resumes his loan spell from Middlesbrough after recovering from shoulder surgery, click on link above for more.

Oxford will be able to call upon the services of defender Damian Batt after he missed the Port Vale win by picking up his fifth booking of the season during the 5-1 victory over Plymouth last Tuesday serving a one-game ban.

Otherwise, Wilder should have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the fixture with the Blues, although he is still without several long-term casualties.

Tony Capaldi (back), Tom Craddock (knee), Andy Haworth (ankle) and Anthony Tonkin (hamstring) are all at least another week away from a return to action.

Saturday's league clash is the first of two meetings between Shrimpers and U's in the space of four days, with the two clubs going head-to-head again on Tuesday at the Kassam Stadium in their Johnstone's Paint Trophy Southern Section quarter-final.

The following preview of their season from back in August is from our friends at www.maxihobbs.com:

Recap of last season

Despite Oxford's promotion they were tipped by many to potentially trouble the top 7 and for parts of the season they did. However, inconsistency scuppered any chance of a play-off spot. Just 1 win in the last 7 leaving them with a final tally of 63 points, only 5 points short of the play-offs meaning a solid return to the Football League was achieved.

Personnel in

Michael Duberry, once worth £4.5 million has signed on at the Kassam in one of the real coup's of the off season. Oxford have also strengthened their front line with the signings of Deane Smalley and Jon Paul Pittman from Oldham and Wycombe respectively.

Tony Capaldi (Morecambe, free)

Ryan James (unattached)

Andy Whing (Leyton Orient, free)

Peter Leven (MK Dons, free)

Wayne Brown (Unattached)

Personnel Out

Former Shrimpers loanee Jack Midson and Sam Deering have moved to fellow League 2 opposition having had limited chances at the Kassam in the past season. Midson moves to AFC Wimbledon and Deering joins Barnet after a successful loan spell towards the end of last season.

Djoumin Sangere (released)

Mitchell Hanson (released)

Simon Eastwood (released)

Strengths

Oxford were the best side at keeping the ball at home last season (54%) and couple this with the amount of options up front the Kassam is no doubt one of the more tricky grounds to visit in the League. The likes of Smalley and Constable coupled with the experience of Paul McClaren and Micheal Duberry give Oxford a well balanced squad with plenty of attacking talent going forward and a solid looking midfield and defense giving them all the attributes for a promotion assault.

Weaknesses

Despite Oxfords attacking talent they have their flaws at the back. They went an incredible 22 games without a clean sheet last season, the longest streak in the Football League. If Oxford sort out their defense they can expect a genuine promotion assault, if not it could well be more of the same.

Key Man

Paul McClaren: A real coup for Oxford expect McClaren to boss the midfield for the U's. At this level Oxford have a player of real quality, experience and who can pull a team by the scruff of the neck in times of need. Not many midfielders will get the better of this man on his day.

One to Watch

Deane Smalley: It's hard to look beyond Oxford's attacking talent here. A plethora of strikers is littered within their squad, one of them being Deane Smalley, previously of Oldham. Smalley drops down a level looking for first team football and with Oxford’s system of 3 attacking players watch out for Smalley' s name in the top scoring charts throughout the season.

Outlook

Oxford fans will be aiming to push on from their 12th place and who can blame them? They've largely kept the squad in tact from last season and only added further quality with the likes of Deane Smalley and Michael Duberry. Their large fanbase will be as expectant as ever and expect Oxford to trouble the top 7 this season.

Predictions

Ben

: They've got the fanbase to compete in a higher division and should make significant strides in that direction this season. Play-offs perhaps.

Danny

: Dark horses to nick a playoff place.

Maxi

: Continued improvement on a fine first season back in the football league, I think Oxford could surprise us all, top 3.

Last Time Out

Oxford United 2 Port Vale 1; (played on Saturday, October 29th): Report: www.oufc.co.uk

Beeb highlights: http://news.bbc.co.uk

Player to watch

Peter Leven

Well, his wonder goal last Saturday against the Valiants helps, his fourth and you can catch it on the Beeb highlight link above, but he's a useful player all-round the pitch, JP needs to keep an eye on him breaking forward.

The losing manager at the weekend Micky Adams said after the game: "We got done by a wonder goal which I have to say, in the division, he's the only player who would have scored that."

Interesting.

(Full player info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Leven)

At the top

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The man in the middle is first season rookie, and no red cards yet, Mark Heywood from Northwich. (Not the one from Wakefield!)

His assistants are Carl Brook and Michael Webb; The fourth official is Gary Evetts.

FIXTURES

League Two