Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Championship clash between Oxford United and Preston North End, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Oxford United and Preston North End square off on Saturday afternoon looking to improve after a mixed start to the new Championship campaign.
Both clubs have accumulated three points from as many games to sit in 13th and 18th position in the standings respectively.
Match preview
© Imago
Although Oxford have suffered defeat in two of their opening three Championship fixtures, Des Buckingham will only be encouraged by how his side are performing in the second tier.
The defeats in question have been away at Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers, their hosts nicking 3-2 and 2-1 victories through late goals.
A second loss in quick succession to Coventry occurred in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, Oxford only losing by a 1-0 scoreline on that occasion.
Buckingham will now be grateful for a first match at the Kassam Stadium since August 13, Oxford having prevailed against Norwich City and Peterborough United at the beginning of the campaign.
Ahead of this game, the test will be to rouse a team that have suffered back-to-back league defeats for the first time since the start of March.
As for Preston, supporters will be relieved that they are well on their way to achieving some stability with Paul Heckingbottom making the perfect start as the club’s new manager.
A 1-0 triumph over Luton Town was perhaps more than many anticipated for his first game, as was the 5-0 demolition of Harrogate Town in the EFL Cup.
Sam Greenwood and Milan Osmajic netted all five goals against the League Two outfit and will now hope to carry that into the league.
Incredibly, Preston had suffered seven consecutive defeats in the Championship without scoring a single goal before the win over Luton, and they have not prevailed on their travels in this decision since March 16.
Oxford United Championship form:
Oxford United form (all competitions):
Preston North End Championship form:
Preston North End form (all competitions):
Team News
© Reuters
With Elliott Moore and Cameron Brannagan expected to be available after injury, Buckingham has a decision to make regarding his team selection.
Given the spirited effort at Ewood Park, it would come as no surprise if the Oxford team from that fixture remained the same.
The likes of Matt Phillips and Tyler Goodrham did enough in that match to keep Malcolm Ebiowei among the replacements.
Heckingbottom must decide whether to automatically hand opportunities to Greenwood and Osmajic on the back of their ruthless showings at Harrogate.
Much may depend on whether he wishes to return to a back three, although Emil Riis and Will Keane will argue that they deserve to retain their places in a two-man attack.
Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Cumming; Kioso, Long, Brown, Bennett; Vaulks; Phillips, Rodrigues, Mizouni, Goodrham; Harris
Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Thordarson, Whiteman, Frokjaer-Jensen, Kesler-Hayden; Keane, Riis
We say: Oxford United 1-1 Preston North End
Heckingbottom will be confident that his Preston side can build on what was a promising start against Luton last weekend. However, Oxford could prove tough to beat at the Kassam Stadium this season, leading us to predict a low-scoring draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.