Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 January 2024, 17:33
Two teams battling for promotion from League One this season will lock horns for an intriguing contest on Tuesday evening, with sixth-placed Oxford United welcoming fifth-placed Barnsley.

The home side will enter the contest off the back of a 3-1 victory at Carlisle United on January 13, while Barnsley beat the same opponents 2-1 in their last game on January 16.

Match preview

Oxford have never played in the Championship, so the team are chasing history this season, and an impressive campaign to date has left them in sixth position in the League One table on 49 points.

Des Buckingham's side have won 15, drawn four and lost seven of their 26 league games this season, and they are level on points with fifth-placed Barnsley and just six behind Peterborough United in second.

It is fascinating at the top of the League One table, as just seven points separate the top six, demonstrating the importance of this contest, and Oxford will enter the fixture off the back of a 3-1 win over Carlisle on January 13.

Oxford had been due to face Northampton Town on Saturday, but the match was called off due to a frozen pitch, with the surface at the Kassam Stadium not deemed to be usable.

The U's recorded a 3-1 victory over Barnsley when the two teams locked horns in the reverse match last August, but they were beaten 2-1 by Tuesday's opponents in the corresponding fixture during the 2022-23 campaign.

Barnsley, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 success over Carlisle on January 16, which stretched their unbeaten run in the third tier of English football to 10 matches.

Neill Collins's side have won six and drawn four of their last 10 games in League One, with their strong run of form moving them up into fifth position in the table, boasting a record of 14 wins, seven draws and five defeats from their 26 matches during the 2023-24 campaign.

The Tykes finished fourth in League One last season, which saw them make the playoffs, dispatching Bolton Wanderers in the semi-finals, but they were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield Wednesday in the final.

Barnsley, who saw Saturday's clash with Stevenage called off due to a frozen pitch, were relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2021-22 season, so they are in their second straight campaign at this level, but they will be expecting to seriously challenge for a return to the second tier.

Collins's team have impressed on their travels this season, picking up 25 points from their 12 matches, recording seven wins in the process, but Oxford have also won seven of their 12 fixtures on home soil.

Oxford United League One form:

W

L

W

L

W

W

Oxford United form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

L

W

Barnsley League One form:

W

W

D

D

W

W

Advert - content below:

Team News

Oxford have not been in action since January 13, so tiredness should not be an issue, and it is more than likely that head coach Buckingham will name an unchanged side from the success over Carlisle.

Mark Harris moved onto 10 goals for the season with a brace last time out, and the 25-year-old is a certainty to feature in the final third of the field once again.

Cameron Brannagan and Tyler Goodrham have also been in strong scoring form this season, netting seven times each, and the pair will continue in the starting XI for this clash.

As for Barnsley, Devante Cole has been the team's main source of goals this term, finding the back of the net on 16 occasions in all competitions, and he is set to be partnered in attack by John McAtee.

The 24-year-old has nine goals to his name this term, so Oxford will be taking on a front two with 24 goals between them this season.

Head coach Collins is unlikely to make any changes from the clash with Carlisle last time out, with Herbie Kane, who has netted seven times from midfield this season, also featuring in the XI.

Oxford United possible starting lineup:

Cumming; Smyth, Moore, Brown; Stevens, McGuane, Goodrham, Bennett; Rodrigues, Harris, Brannagan

Barnsley possible starting lineup:

Roberts; Williams, De Gevigney, Shepherd; Connell; O'Keeffe, Phillips, Kane, Styles; McAtee, Cole

We say: Oxford United 1-1 Barnsley

This is a really tough match to call, and both managers would likely accept a point if it were offered ahead of kickoff. There will be a desire from both not to lose this game, which could make it a cagey affair, and we are expecting the points to be shared on Tuesday night.

Previews by email

Top News

14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together at the top of League C Group 1 with two games to play, Sweden and Slovakia will battle it out to take the outright lead when they meet on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal will reportedly allow out-of-favour defender Jakub Kiwior to leave the club on loan in January. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wales travel to the Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri to face Turkey in their penultimate League B Group 4 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre has not ruled out the possibility of leaving the club in January, after seeing his game time reduced recently. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to narrow their gap to the top two in the League One table with a third consecutive victory, Barnsley will visit the Abbey Stadium to take on Cambridge United on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alexander Isak has delivered a fresh update on his future at Newcastle United, amid reported interest from a number of clubs including Arsenal. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Roma have confirmed the appointment of 73-year-old Claudio Ranieri as their new first-team manager until the end of the season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon has revealed that he was "desperate" to join Chelsea in 2022. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal could rival Manchester City and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly weighing up whether to make a move for in-form PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As exquisite as Pedro Neto's equaliser was, the Portuguese's 20-yard leveller for Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal was arguably more to do with the Gunners' uncharacteristic defensive failings. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly made a decision over whether they will pursue a move for Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian has revealed that he will continue with his education even after completing a big-money transfer to Chelsea. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly going to give Real Sociedad "a long and hard winter" in their pursuit of midfielder Martin Zubimendi. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Embroiled in a fight against relegation to the UEFA Nations League's lowest level, Azerbaijan and Estonia will clash in Qabala on Saturday afternoon. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as a late doubt for Thursday's UEFA Nations League meeting with Greece due to a knock. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be given the all-clear for Saturday's all-important UEFA Nations League clash with Hungary in Amsterdam. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Locked together on five points in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, the Netherlands and Hungary meet on Saturday in a winner-takes-all clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both vying for promotion to the UEFA Nations League's top tier, Albania and League B Group 1 leaders Czech Republic will lock horns on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted that his club are not currently looking to bring in a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, with the striker in excellent form for the Catalan giants this season. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega will be eyeing a debut for the Germany national team in Saturday's UEFA Nations League clash with Bosnia-Herzegovina in League A Group 3. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona sporting director Deco is confident that the club will be able to sign Pedri to a new long-term contract. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Needing just a point to all but guarantee a first-placed finish in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League, Germany welcome Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Europa-Park Stadion in Freiburg on Saturday. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Christian Eriksen has revealed that he is 'yet to hear anything' from Manchester United over his future. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As closely contested League B Group 1 nears its conclusion, promotion - and relegation - rivals Georgia and Ukraine will meet in Batumi on Saturday evening. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering making a move for Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Martin Baturina during the January transfer window. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Kazakhstan vs. Austria (Thursday, 3.00pm) Amid a three-way battle for promotion from League B Group 3, Austria aim to improve their prospects with a win on Thursday, when they meet Kazakhstan in the UEFA Nations League. 14 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Athletico Paranaense can temporarily climb out of the Brasileiro Serie A relegation zone with a victory over Atletico Mineiro on Saturday at Arena de Baixada.