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

Relegation-threatened Oxford are also desperate to claim all three points after failing to win any of their last 13 matches.

Match preview

Port Vale boss Darrell Clarke will have to pick his players up for Monday's contest after they were heavily beaten by Accrington Stanley on Friday.

The Valiants were swept aside by a 3-0 scoreline, ensuring they have now conceded at least two goals in their last four games.

Having picked up just two points from their previous five matches, Port Vale are languishing in 17th place and are at risk of being dragged into a relegation battle in the final stages of the campaign.

As it stands, they still boast a healthy seven-point cushion to the bottom four, but they will be looking to mathematically secure their League One status soon rather than later.

Ahead of Monday's fixture, the hosts can take confidence from the fact that they are unbeaten in their previousfour competitive home meetings with Oxford.

The U's, meanwhile, are in real danger of being relegated after picking up just four points from their last 13 matches.

Oxford have at least shown some signs of improvement since Liam Manning was appointed head coach, having played out three consecutive draws under the new manager.

In their most recent outing against promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday, Cameron Brannagan dispatched a 70th-minute penalty to cancel out Barry Bannan's opener, ensuring the home encounter ended in a 1-1 draw.

With seven matches left to play, the U's are just one point above the drop zone, and Manning will be fully aware that wins rather than draws are needed if Oxford are to retain their place in the third tier.

Wins may be hard to come by for the visitors, but they do have the chance to complete a league double over Port Vale, after cruising to a dominant 4-0 win in the reverse fixture.

Port Vale League One form:

W

D

L

D

L

L

Oxford United League One form:

L

L

L

D

D

D

Team News

The Valiants are still expected to be without the services of Lewis Cass and Ben Garrity due to calf injuries.

After being sent off in stoppage time against, Funso Ojo will miss out through suspension, which could lead to Tom Conlon partnering Tom Pett in central midfield.

They will also be unable to call upon Oxford loanees Jack Stevens and Matty Taylor, who are ineligible to face their parent club.

As for the visitors, Elliott Moore will miss out after he suffered a concussion during Friday's draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Stephan Negru replaced Moore against the Owls to make his Oxford debut, and he could now be presented with his first start for the U's.

Kyle Joseph is expected to keep his place in the Oxford forward line, and he will be looking to add to the seven league goals he has scored this season.

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Stone; Forrester, Smith, Donnelly; Massey, Conlon, Pett, Robinson; Butterworth; Harrison, Wilson

Oxford United possible starting lineup:

Eastwood; Long, Negru, Findlay, Brown; McGuane, Brannagan; Murphy, Browne, Wildschut; Joseph

We say: Port Vale 1-1 Oxford United

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