Score predictions - Oxford away

The rearranged Oxford fixture is up next. With both Bolton and Derby playing games in hand on Tuesday too, it's imperative we get a positive result to stay in the hunt. The bookies have us as 21/10 outsiders to extend our unbeaten run to 11 matches, with United priced at 8/7 to add to their back to back league victories.


Despite being pace setters for a period at the start of the season, the Ox's now find themselves 6th, behind us on goal difference. They've won 4 of their last 6 in the league, which ended a slump of no wins in 4 in the league in late November and early December. At home, they have the 7th best points tally, with 24 from 12 games. A defeat to Derby in their last home game was only their second of the season, and first in 11 in all competitions (8 league games). They don't conceed many goals at the Kassam, just 11 in 12 games, including 5 clean sheets.


Our victory at Oxford last season, courtesy of goals from Bobby Thomas and Nicky Cadden, was our first in 6 meetings away to the yellows, stretching back to 1991. Of our 13 visits to Oxford, we've only won 3, drawing 3, and losing the other 7; though we are unbeaten in our last 2 visits there, which cover the last 25 years.


Referee Lee Swabey has taken charge of just 15 games this season, issuing just under 5 cards a game. Only 2 of those have been red. He issued 11 yellows and 1 red in Reading's 2-1 victory over Bolton in September, and 5 yellows each during Peterborough's 1-0 home win over Charlton in August. Coincidentally, he took charge of the aforementioned clash between the Reds and Ox's last season. All 4 yellow cards on that occasion were given to reds players (Collins, Kane, Connell and Martin).


Welsh forward, Mark Harris might be one to keep an eye on. Whilst he hasn't been the most prolific throughout his career, he's currently having a bit of a purple patch, with 4 goals in 4 games in all competitions. In comparison, Devante Cole also has 4 in 4, having netted in straight league games and going back to the top of the scoring charts in the process.


I see this one being a tight, low scoring affair. It's difficult to predict, however I do think the break between the last few games would have done us some good, as we did start to look leggy over Christmas. I'm going for 2-1 reds, with Cole and McAtee on the scoresheet.

 

Not confident with this one, I can see a 2-0 or 2-1 defeat.

 

Things have changed a bit since the weekend postponements. I was thinking we would have to beat Stevenage and depending on how they did at the weekend, a draw at Oxford would have done to keep both below us.

Looking at the tiny gap above us, I think we need to go for it, and I expect we will.

3-1 Reds

 

0-3

 

A very tight game, 1-1.

 

P-P

 

2-2. They aren’t the side they were since Manning left and we’re looking good in terms of results.

 

3-1 to the Reds
Cole,Jalo,Kane

 

2-1 Reds

 

4-0 to us.

 

2-0 Oxford

 

Tough game but 0-1

 

Oxford 176-1 Barnsley

 

1-1. Cosgrove with the goal.

 

Sticking with the Stevenage prediction.

0-5.

Cole (2), McAtee, Cadden, Kane.

 

I think we're due a dodgy referee decision against us, it's been a few weeks now.

1-1 with an Oxford penalty.

 

2-1 unfortunately

 

It’s a difficult one if the permafrost South Pole worm hole doesn’t open up on the 20 yd line I’m going 1-0 to the Reds

 

Postponed pitch waterlogged.

 

1-2 Reds.