Oxford Utdvs.Plymouth

The U's will be looking to claim a second straight victory, while the Pilgrims will try to end a seven-game winless run.

Match preview

Oxford made the perfect start to life under Gary Rowett, surviving a late Cardiff City fightback to claim a narrow 3-2 victory in their Boxing Day clash.

Mark Harris, Ciaron Brown and Przemyslaw Placheta all found the net to give Oxford a commanding three-goal lead at the Kassam Stadium, before Cardiff's Cian Ashford and Callum Robinson found the net in the 82nd and 95th minute respectively.

Despite being given a late scare, the U's ultimately did enough to secure three crucial points, halting a run of three consecutive defeats as well as ending their seven-game wait for a win.

As a result of the narrow victory, Oxford have moved out of the Championship relegation, leaving them in 20th place and two points above the bottom three ahead of Sunday's meeting with Plymouth.

While Rowett may have started his tenure with a win, he will be aware that Oxford need to improve defensively, given the fact they have conceded two goals or more in six of their last seven matches.

The U's will now be fully focused on their outing of 2024, with the hosts looking to beat Plymouth for the first time since recording a 3-1 win in April 2021.

Pressure is mounting on Plymouth boss Wayne Rooney after his side experienced another disappointing outing in Thursday's away clash against Coventry City.

The Pilgrims fell to a heavy 4-0 defeat against Frank Lampard's side, conceding all four goals in a disastrous first half at the Coventry Building Society Arena

As a result of that demoralising loss, Coventry have lost five of their last six matches and are winless in seven games since they beat Blackburn Rovers on November 5.

Having mustered just 18 points from 22 matches, Rooney's side will now enter the final matchday of 2024 as the Championship basement side, with two points separating them from 21st-placed Portsmouth.

Plymouth need to drastically improve at the back if they are to avoid the drop, having let in 48 goals in their 22 league games - 10 more than any other side in the division.

With the Pilgrims low on confidence, they may be able to draw some inspiration from the fact they have won each of their last four matches against Oxford, including a 3-1 away victory in their most recent meeting in February 2023.

Oxford United Championship form:

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Plymouth Argyle Championship form:

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Team News

Oxford remain without the defensive duo of Ben Nelson and Joe Bennett due to quad and ankle injuries respectively.

Siriki Dembele and Louie Sibley could be given more minutes off the bench after returning from injury to feature as substitutes against Cardiff.

Rowett may decide to select an unchanged starting lineup providing there are no fresh injury concerns ahead of Sunday's home clash.

As for Plymouth, they are expected to be without Ryan Hardie, Michael Obafemi, Morgan Whittaker, Muhamed Tijani, Ibrahim Cissoko and Joe Edwards.

Mustapha Bundu is unlikely to be involved after he was forced off in the first half against Coventry City with a hamstring issue.

Callum Wright will serve the first game of a three-match suspension following his late red card at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Oxford United possible starting lineup:

Cumming; Long, Moore, Brown, Leigh; Placheta, Vaulks, Brannagan, Goodrham; Rodrigues; Harris

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:

Grimshaw; Mumba, Szucs, Gibson, Galloway; Issaka, Gyabi, Randell, Forshaw, Finn; Gray

We say: Oxford United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle

Written by

Ben Sully

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