Ahead of each of United's games this season, we are looking back at memorable matches against their next opponents.

December 26, 1988: Walsall 1, Oxford United 5

RICHARD Hill gave Oxford United fans the best Christmas present they could have dreamed of with a stunning four-goal show at Walsall.

The striker fired a seven-minute

hat-trick, with his fourth coming nine minutes later, as the U’s celebrated Boxing Day with their biggest win of the Division Two season.

Few would have predicted the final score when the visitors went in at half-time 1-0 down, with Hill revealing he was singled out by boss Brian Horton during the break.

He said: “My job is to score goals and that’s what I have done.

“I got a right rollicking at half-time and Brian told me I had ten minutes to do something.”

Martin Foyle deservedly got on the scoresheet with United’s fifth, but the day – and the match ball – belonged to his strike partner.

All four of Hill’s goals were quality finishes, with two coming from outside the area.

And Horton was delighted that his striker produced the goods after scouring the country for a goal machine.

The manager said: “That’s finishing of top class, just magic play.

“I was ever so pleased with the way it came because I’ve stuck Richard up front with Martin Foyle and what he has just done has probably saved me half a million pounds.”

Oxford Utd: Judge, Bardsley, Lewis, Greenall, J Phillips, Smart, L Phillips, Simpson, Shelton, Foyle, Hill.