Preview: Exeter City vs. Oxford United - prediction, team news, lineups

Karl Robinson's side are currently sitting 20th in the League One table and are without a win in their last four league games, with three defeats in those games, including their previous fixture against Wycombe Wanderers.

Match preview

Exeter have now played several games with Kevin Nicholson and Jon Hill in temporary charge, with their most recent fixture against Charlton being their first defeat.

Interviews are being held for the job this week, with Nicholson being one of the favourites to secure the permanent job.

One of the positives which can be taken from the Charlton fixture is that Jay Stansfield continued his scoring form after he netted twice in the previous fixture against Barnsley, although his goal was not enough to inspire a comeback and the game eventually ended in a 4-2 defeat.

The upcoming fixture against Oxford provides a good opportunity for the side to get back to their best, with the potential in the forward line still being present; Stansfield is showing good form, while Jevani Brown has been quiet in the past few games but has already shown his scoring potential this season.

How the side reacts to their first defeat since the departure of Matt Taylor will be interesting to see, as well as how the coaching staff reacts. The system has been left unchanged so far but the most recent loss may prompt some changes.

Oxford have lost three of their last four league games, leaving them just outside the relegation zone on goal difference, but if there was anything to be positive about, it would be the margin of defeat as they have only lost those games by one goal.

It is putting the ball in the back of the net themselves which has proven to be Karl Robinson's side's biggest problem this season, with their tally of just nine goals in their opening 11 league games standing alongside bottom-of-the-table Morecambe as the worst record in the division.

Forward Matty Taylor, who scored 20 goals last season, has yet to score in six starts so far in this campaign, but this has been a season where injury has made him miss a few games. Oxford fans will be hoping that he can start finding the scoring form of last season now he is back from injury.

Cameron Brannagan, who helped contribute to the scoring last season with 14 goals himself, has scored four times this season, twice from the penalty spot, but without the goals of someone else to help supplement his involvement, the team have lacked a scoring prowess.

The defensive performance of the side is what has kept them competitive in games, with the team only conceding 12 times in 11 league games and just three times away from home.

The stability of the defence is something that can be looked at as a positive and potentially give the side the foundations to start finding narrow victories.

Exeter City League One form:

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Exeter City form (all competitions):

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Oxford United League One form:

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Oxford United form (all competitions):

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Team News

Exeter have named an unchanged side for their last two fixtures and have also stuck to the same formation, but after the defeat against Charlton, a few changes could potentially be made.

Harry Kite came on as a second-half substitute for Rekeem Harper and with Kite already making seven starts this season, this may be an area where the temporary boss will be looking to freshen up for this fixture against Oxford.

Oxford have been experimenting with different formations, with a recent switch from three-at-the-back formations to four at the back, coinciding with the return of Matty Taylor to the team.

Against an Exeter side who have been in good scoring form this season, it would be expected that Oxford play a 4-2-3-1 to provide some extra defensive stability, with Marcus McGuane and Cameron Brannagan in the holding midfield roles.

If they were feeling more expansive, they could play a 4-3-3, which they did against Wycombe Wanderers, however, this did not help their scoring problems as they lost that fixture 1-0.

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Blackman; Hartridge, Sweeney, Key; Sparkes, Collins, Kite, Caprice, Brown; Nombe, Stansfield

Oxford United possible starting lineup:

Eastwood; Brown, Findlay, Moore, Long; McGuane, Brannagan, Browne, Joseph, Henry; Taylor

We say: Exeter City 2-1 Oxford United

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