We all wondered if it would be Ryan Leonard or Neil Harris to be recalled in the place of suspended Bilel Mohsni.
And in the end it was both!
Leonard coming in on the right of midfield while Bomber replaces midfielder Jean-Paul Kalala who dropped out of the squad following a family bereavement.
In his absence, Michael Timlin moved in to central midfield with Ryan Hall reverting back on to the left wing allowing Neil to join Liam Dickinson upfront.
The Shrimpers even decided to have a shot stopper on the substitutes bench as Daniel Bentley has pulled out with a back problem, Blair to take on the gloves in an emergency?
And as Paul Sturrock's usual tactical changes have recently, it worked, just, with the Blues boss having to thank his loanee custodian Luke Daniels for a series of super saves, mostly before the break that kept his side in the game.
It started for Saint Luke in the 13th minute when smothered a low, long range shot from the S24 player-to-watch for the U's, midfielder Peter Leven, who went on to prove just that.
Next up was the long serving Oxford striker James Constable who after getting the ball past Southend skipper Chris Barker decided to pass with only Daniels to beat, a starnge decision, and left back Peter Gilbert was able to clear.
Leven again could only curse the signing from Premiership West Brom, 28 days, wish we could make it longer, that saw his 25 yard free-kick pushed to safety followed by the shot stopper bravely rushing off his line to deny Constable.
The home side were hardly getting any possession for long periods as Oxford closed down the space as soon as soon as any Shrimper moved forward, this was not a team that Southend have been used to facing recently, they were in for a real battle.
There was a moment of respite as a Hall corner was met by Gilbert but his near post header went just wide, however it didn't last.
Danny Philliskirk had a close range effort deflected over the bar by Phillips slidiing in, followed by Andy Whing’s header from the resulting Leven corner that was parried to safety by Daniels.
Then the save of the game from a fair number of choices that I felt at the time could well mean the points staying in Essex.
Four minutes from half-time and a skimming long range free-kick from, who else, Leven, seemed to have found it's way through a mass of Shrimpers into the back of the net, before out popped Daniels to somehow get a hand to the ball and it went wide. Brilliant.
Phew, get to the break goalless and we could get something out of this was in the thoughts of the majority of the home faithful when football did what it's capable of in any match, kick you in the knackers when you least expect it, and it did here for the boys from Oxford.
It was the second minute of first half stoppage time when a free-kick on left wing by the always busy Hall found scoring machine Mark Phillips who headed home from only six yards for his sixth of the season.
Unjustified? Possibily, almost certainly, it's a cruel game.
Oxford though started the second 45 determined to get back on level terms as quickly as they could and yet another dangerous Leven free-kick, this one from 25 yards out, was once again parried away by Daniels.
However, loanee midfielder Michael Timlin then missed an amazing chance on 52 minutes make it two, after a slip from Jake Wright left him with only U's keeper Ryan Clarke to beat he got in a real mess with his shot and it went wide, well wide. Embarrassing!
And as expected after that the U's went up the other end and equalised!
Leven, he really is a very good player, crossed accuratly from the left and Damien Batt ghosted in past both Gilbert and Leonard at the far post to head home from six yards.
A deserved draw then for the away side, not with Mr. Ryan Hall on the pitch.
Only one minute after the Oxford goal the ever-dangerous wide boy with his shoot on site policy did just that from 25 yards, and it curled around Clarke into the top left hand corner, he had no chance.
The midfield though were still showing some gaps that Leven & Co. were eager to fill so no surprise that Anthony Grant came on in the 74th minute, but maybe that it was for Hall, while Blair Sturrock replaced a quiet but always looking for space Neil Harris upfront five monutes later.
It certainly helped tighten things up in the centre of the park and slowly but surely the U's ceased to be such a threat, even allowing Leonard to head a Timlin cross against the foot of the right-hand post.
Five minutes of stoppage time went relatively harmlessly, another Levin corner had a few nails lost in concern, and the Shrimpers had done what all successful sides have done over the years, win when not at their best.
In fact, we've done that a few times this season, though not ion such a dramatic fashion withe the keeper making such a big difference, a season that is looking more and more like it's going to end on a high note.
Still, 29 games to go, so let's not put the champange on ice just yet, but ten wins out of eleven games, a nine point gap between the eighth placed club, and the best goal difference in the league are certainly all reasons to be cheerful. (This time last year ect.)
Anyway, the lads have a couple of weeks to enjoy a couple of weeks off from League action as the cups return; Oxford again, this time at their place in the JPT Tuesday evening, Preston North End at Deepdale next weekend, before the short trip to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday November 19th and to stay top of the pile.
Southend player markings:Daniels - 9, Clohessy - 6, Phillips 6, Barker - 6, Gilbert - 5, Leonard - 6, Ferdinand - 5, Timlin - 6, Hall - 7 (Grant - 6), Harris - 5 (Sturrock - 6), Dickinson - 6.
Referee: Mr. M. Heywood - 7.