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

In a relegation six-pointer, Oxford United volition invited Cardiff City to the Kassam Stadium connected Thursday successful their 22nd Championship crippled of the season.

The hosts were beaten 4-0 by Leeds United connected December 21 and are 2nd past successful 23rd spot with 18 points, whereas their opponents are level connected points successful 22nd spot and lost 2-0 against Sheffield United past Saturday.

Match preview

© Imago

Oxford were thoroughly outplayed by Leeds connected the play fixed they faced 5 large chances, were taxable to 23 shots and conceded astir 3 xG.

New manager Gary Rowett was appointed connected December 20, replacing Des Buckingham, but helium watched from the stands arsenic his broadside fell to their 11th decision of the league season.

Their nonaccomplishment was their sixth successful their past 7 games, a play successful which they conceded 20 goals portion lone scoring 4 times.

Rowett inherits a broadside that person won conscionable erstwhile successful their past 16 fixtures and person won one, drawn 4 and mislaid 3 of their 8 astir caller matches astatine home.

The U's person netted 21 times and conceded connected 37 occasions successful the 2nd tier, and these are the division's associated second-worst violative and third-worst antiaircraft records.

© Imago

Cardiff travel into Thursday's clash having mislaid 2-0 against Sheffield United, though they should beryllium credited for a spirted show fixed they restricted the Blades to conscionable 1 large accidental crossed 90 minutes.

Boss Omer Riza chose to absorption connected the positives from the game, telling reporters: "It's disappointing astatine the end, but the amended squad won. In general, I thought we worked hard and the boys showed bully endeavour and bully levels of intensity. Those are the things we spoke astir needing to person erstwhile we play astatine home."

The Bluebirds inhabit the league's last relegation spot but are conscionable 1 constituent from 21st-placed Hull City, who person played an further crippled successful the Championship.

Riza's broadside are successful mediocre form, with the nine having mislaid 5 and drawn 3 of their past 8 outings, conceding 14 and scoring six.

The visitors person been somewhat harder to bushed distant from location fixed they person held their opponents to a stalemate 5 times successful their past six games, but they are winless connected the roadworthy successful 10 attempts.

Oxford United Championship form:

Cardiff City Championship form:

Team News

© Imago

Oxford defender Joseph Bennett volition not instrumentality from wounded until aboriginal January, portion midfielder Louie Sibley could marque his comeback aboriginal adjacent month.

Centre-backs Elliott Moore and Ciaron Brown whitethorn beryllium flanked by full-backs Peter Kioso and Greg Leigh, and the quartet could commencement down a midfield 3 featuring Tyler Goodrham, Will Vaulks and Cameron Brannagan.

Winger Siriki Dembele is apt to beryllium retired until aboriginal January owed to an ankle injury, truthful expect to spot Przemyslaw Placheta and Owen Dale enactment striker Mark Harris.

Cardiff person an extended wounded database and volition not beryllium capable to telephone upon forwards Isaak Davies, Michael Reindorf, Ollie Tanner and Chris Willock, though Willock could instrumentality successful the adjacent fewer days.

Perhaps the visitors volition tract a guardant enactment consisting of Anwar El Ghazi, Yakou Meite and Rubin Colwill.

Midfielders Aaron Ramsey and David Turnbull are not disposable for selection, and volition beryllium joined connected the sidelines by defenders Perry Ng and Ryotaro Tsunoda.

Manolis Siopis and Alex Robertson could commencement successful a treble pivot up of centre-backs Jesper Daland, Dimitris Goutas and Calum Chambers.

Oxford United imaginable starting lineup:
Cumming; Kioso, Moore, Brown, Leigh; Goodrham, Vaulks, Brannagan; Placheta, Harris, Dale

We say: Oxford United 2-1 Cardiff City

Oxford person importantly less wounded concerns than Cardiff, and they are apt to travel into the crippled energised by the accomplishment of their caller manager.

ID:561350:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect12844:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's regular email of previews and predictions for each large game!