Exetervs.Oxford Utd

The hosts are looking to end a three-game winless run, while the U's will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten start under Gary Rowett.

Match preview

Exeter have taken just one point from three matches since they recorded a 3-1 victory over Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day.

The Grecians played out an entertaining 4-4 draw with Crawley Town, before they fell to consecutive 2-1 defeats against Wycombe Wanderers and Bolton Wanderers.

To add insult to injury, Aaron Morley scored a stoppage-time winner in both of those matches, helping his loan side Wycombe snatch all three points, before he returned to his parent club to score the decisive goal for Bolton in the 91st minute of last Saturday's clash at Adams Park, leaving Exeter in 14th place in the League One table - 11 points above the drop zone and 10 points adrift from the top six.

The Grecians will be pleased to see the back of Morley, as they now turn their focus to their first FA Cup third-round appearance in four years, which has come courtesy of wins over Barnet and Chesterfield in the opening two rounds of the competition proper.

Exeter are looking to reach the fourth round for the first time since 1980-81 when they made their way to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by eventual winners Tottenham Hotspur.

Oxford will carry significant momentum into Saturday's FA Cup tie after winning three and drawing one of their first four matches under Rowett's tutelage.

The 50-year-old required just one match to end Oxford's eight-game winless run, overseeing a 3-2 victory over Cardiff City to kick off his tenure in impressive fashion.

Oxford went on to record victories over Plymouth Argyle and Millwall without conceding, before they played out a 1-1 draw in last Saturday's away clash with Preston North End.

As a result of his promising start, Rowett has taken Oxford from 22nd place up to 17th position in the Championship table, putting them five points clear of the bottom three.

The U's will now put their survival bid on hold as they turn their focus to FA Cup action, with the visitors looking to reach the fourth round for the first time since 2019-20.

They may fancy their chances of achieving that feat, having won four of their last five competitive meetings with Exeter, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent away encounter in April 2024.

Exeter City FA Cup form:

W

W

Exeter City form (all competitions):

L

W

W

D

L

L

Oxford United form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

W

D

Team News

Exeter are expected to be without Sonny Cox, Yanic Wildschut, Kevin McDonald, Mustapha Carayol, Reece Cole, Pierce Sweeney and Ed James.

Ilmari Niskanen dropped down to the bench for the recent draw to Bolton, but he could return to the side to feature as a left wing-back against Oxford.

Jack Aitchison is also pushing for a starting role after returning from injury to play around half an hour last weekend.

As for the visitors, they are likely to be without captain Elliott Moore, who picked up a groin injury in the New Year's Day victory over Millwall.

Peter Kioso and Mark Harris will have to be assessed by Oxford's medical staff after they were forced off in the draw with Preston.

Rowett may decide to rotate his squad for Saturday's FA Cup game, which could see starting opportunities handed to the likes of Matt Ingram, Jordan Thorniley, Josh McEachran, Przemyslaw Placheta, Siriki Dembele and Dane Scarlett.

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Whitworth; Fitzwater, Crama, Francis; McMillan, Woods, Richards, Niskanen; Aitchison, Mitchell; Magennis

Oxford United possible starting lineup:

Ingram; Ter Avest, Thorniley, Brown, Leigh; McEachran, Brannagan; Placheta, Sibley, Dembele; Scarlett

We say: Exeter City 1-2 Oxford United

While Oxford are set to make a number of changes for the third-round tie, they will still carry plenty of momentum into the weekend after winning three and drawing one of their four matches under Rowett, and we think that they will keep that run going by claiming a narrow victory over a club they have beaten in four of their last five meetings.

Written by

Ben Sully

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