HISTORY tells us we should not have been too surprised that Oxford United failed to beat Stevenage last night.

The U’s have not won any of the last 13 games they have played on October 5, which has become something of a cursed date.

In fact, their last victory on that day was a 2-1 home triumph over Newport County in 1963 – United’s second season as a Football League club.

Since then, the U’s have drawn five matches and lost eight on October 5, starting with a 3-0 defeat at Portsmouth in 1968.

The few highlights include a League Cup visit to Newcastle United in 1983, when a Steve Biggins goal secured a 1-1 draw in their second round, first leg tie.

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Third-Division United beat their second-tier opponents 2-1 in the return fixture and went on to reach the quarter-finals.

There was also a 1-1 home draw with arch-rivals Swindon Town in 1988, the season after the U’s were relegated from the top flight.

Like against Stevenage, United could not hold a lead the last time they played on October 5.

That was two years ago, when the U’s twice went ahead at Accrington Stanley in Sky Bet League One – Tariqe Fosu and Cameron Brannagan scoring – only to draw 2-2.

The bad news is United’s next game, against Plymouth Argyle on October 16, also falls on a day when they have a poor record.

The U’s have lost their last five games on that date and last tasted victory against Walsall in 1982.