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

sportsmole.co.uk, 20 October 2022, 18:37
Oxford United take on Peterborough United in League One on Saturday, looking to build on last weekend's dominant victory against Exeter City.

That result moved the U's to 19th in the table, as Peterborough fell to a defeat at Wycombe Wanderers, despite taking an early lead.

Match preview

Oxford beat the Grecians 4-2 in their last match, thanks to goals from Cameron Brannagan, Sam Long and a brace from Kyle Joseph which pulled them two points clear of the relegation zone.

However, they followed that up with defeat at Sutton United in the EFL Trophy in midweek, having made a number of changes from the side victorious in Devon.

It was a tough start to the campaign for Karl Robinson's team, who were on a five-game run without a win before the Exeter triumph, losing three of their first four games this season.

The results and statistics all show that the games have been tight affairs, though, with Oxford yet to lose a league game by more than a single goal.

Fleetwood Town are the only team in the bottom half of the table to have conceded fewer than Oxford so far, but only the Cod Army, Cheltenham Town and bottom-of-the-table Morecambe have scored fewer.

They have not been clinical enough in front of goal, scoring just six times from open play in the league in their 12 games this season.

Two of their four wins have come at the Kassam Stadium, but they have not won there since the victory against Burton Albion at the beginning of September and lost to Wycombe there two weeks ago.

The Posh have had their own recent troubles with the Chairboys, failing to beat them on two occasions over the past week.

Saturday's defeat at Adams Park came as no real surprise despite Harrison Burrows's early strike as Peterborough have lost five of their last six games away from home.

That was followed up by a draw - and a subsequent penalty shootout defeat - in the EFL Trophy at the same venue in midweek, but the point was enough to see Grant McCann's side progress to the knockout phase of the competition.

Posh do find themselves in the playoff places, but have played at least one game more than the five teams immediately beneath them in the table.

They have conceded 14 goals away from home in the league this season, with only Burton Albion and Forest Green Rovers conceding more on their travels than Peterborough.

Captain Jonson Clarke-Harris has scored 10 times in his 14 appearances so far this season, which sees him leading the scoring charts, two clear of Exeter's Jevani Brown.

Oxford United League One form:

W

L

L

D

L

W

Oxford United form (all competitions):

L

D

L

L

W

L

Peterborough United League One form:

L

W

W

D

W

L

Peterborough United form (all competitions):

W

W

D

W

L

L

Team News

Oxford will be without the injured Sam Baldock and Josh Murphy this weekend, with manager Robinson confirming that Baldock will have a scan and Murphy is looking at one or two weeks on the sidelines.

They could welcome back Jodi Jones, as the winger has recovered from his groin problem that kept him out of the defeat at Sutton earlier in the week.

Peterborough should have midfielders Jack Taylor and Kwame Poku available for selection again after overcoming injuries that have seen them ruled out of both encounters with Wycombe this week.

Defender Kell Watts could get his first league start for the club after impressing in the EFL Trophy game, and Ronnie Edwards could be recalled after being named a substitute for the past four games.

Oxford United possible starting lineup:

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

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Bergstrom; Knight, Edwards, Watts; Ward, Taylor, Fuchs, Butler; Burrows; Marriott, Clarke-Harris

We say: Oxford United 1-1 Peterborough United

Previews by email

Top News

27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Vitor Pereira is hopeful that his club will be able to keep hold of Matheus Cunha in January amid the growing speculation surrounding his future. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mid-table duo Udinese and Torino will meet on Sunday afternoon, fighting it out for maximum points from their final Serie A fixture of 2024. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly not prepared to pay £50m for Marcus Rashford, with the French champions potentially pulling out of the race for the Manchester United forward. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton vs. Brentford (Friday, 7.30pm) Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Brentford to the Amex in one of two games being played after Boxing Day in the Premier League. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted 22-year-old Boca Juniors goalkeeper Leandro Brey as a transfer target for the January 2025 window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has suffered the worst start of a Manchester United manager in 92 years thanks to Thursday's disheartening 2-0 Premier League loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea suffered their worst Premier League collapse of the 2000s in their shock 2-1 home loss to Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AVS and Estrela Amadora are in action for the last time in 2024 when they go head to head at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves in round 16 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Saturday. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool wing wizard Mohamed Salah hit yet another Premier League goalscoring landmark as Arne Slot's league leaders fought back to defeat Leicester City 3-1 on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Leicester City at Anfield on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have lost key midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to suspension for their trip to West Ham United in the Premier League this weekend. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The only team in the Premier League with their unbeaten home record still intact, Arsenal seek to avoid a festive giant killing in Friday's Emirates encounter with Ipswich Town. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Manchester United attacker Antony has confirmed that there is "concrete interest" in the Brazilian ahead of the January transfer window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur's defensive crisis worsened in their 1-0 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, as Djed Spence was sent off while Radu Dragusin sustained an ankle injury. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to end 2024 on top of Serie A, league leaders Atalanta BC will tackle close challengers Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea hotshot Cole Palmer broke a 23-year-old club goalscoring record set by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the Blues' shock 2-1 Premier League defeat to West London derby rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Julen Lopetegui's West Ham United beat Southampton 1-0 away from home on Thursday afternoon and spoiled Saints manager Ivan Juric's first game in charge of the club. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest have shot back into third place in the Premier League table thanks to Nuno Espirito Santo masterminding a 1-0 win over former club Tottenham Hotspur. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Andoni Iraola's Champions League hopefuls Bournemouth were held to a 0-0 draw away from home by Crystal Palace on Boxing Day at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rodrigo Muniz scored a last-gasp winner as Fulham sensationally came from behind to defeat West London rivals Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to arrest their underwhelming Primeira Liga results before Christmas, Estoril Praia and Moreirense clash at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday, keen to notch important victories in the gameweek 16 encounter. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Birmingham's Boxing Day clash with Burton had to be temporarily suspended due to a medical emergency at St Andrew's. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Kevin De Bruyne certainly wasn't in the festive spirit after walking down the tunnel immediately after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw against Everton. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jose Mourinho reportedly wants Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford at Fenerbahce, while Paris Saint-Germain will not sign the 27-year-old. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erling Haaland missed a second-half penalty as Manchester City's Premier League plight continued with a 1-1 draw at home to a dogged Everton unit at the Etihad Stadium. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Primeira Liga title contenders Porto could climb to first place on Saturday when they host relegation-threatened Boavista at Estadio do Dragao in gameweek 16. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Goalkeepers tend to be a little crazy and Jordan Pickford is no different. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and Fulham have announced their teams for the West London derby at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are paying increased attention to Atalanta BC midfielder Ederson ahead of a potential summer move to Old Trafford.