Oxford United will be looking to build on their point at Wigan when the U’s welcomes promotion hopefuls Portsmouth.
The south coast club lost 2-1 at home to Charlton on Monday night, a result which leaves them 12 points off the playoffs but with two games in hand. In fact, Pompey are now without a win in their last five games in all competitions.
Oxford are unbeaten in three having picked up wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Gillingham before their point at the DW Stadium.
The U’s made three new signings on deadline day and two of them could come into the squad, with Marcus Browne not yet fully fit. Elsewhere, the club will assess the fitness of James Henry but former Pompey winger Ryan Williams could feature against his former club.
Aiden O’Brien could make his Portsmouth debut after joining from Sunderland while former Black Cats defender Denver Hume made his first appearance against the Addicks.
Marcus Harness has ten goals for Pompey while Ronan Curtis has five. George Hirst and Reeco Hacket-Fairchild have both added four each.
Finding goals has been one of the clubs’ sticking points this season with just 30 goals from 27 league matches – only four teams have scored fewer. However, Pompey boast the third-best defence in the division with just the top two sides having conceded less.
This is the first meeting between the two sides this season. Portsmouth won this fixture last season but the previous five meetings all ended 1-1, with Oxford progressing on penalties in the League One playoffs two seasons ago.
Predicted line-up: Jack Stevens, Steve Seddon, Luke McNally, Elliott Moore, Sam Long, Herbie Kane, Cameron Brannagan, Marcus McGuane, Mark Sykes, Billy Bodin, Matty Taylor.
Prediction: Oxford United 2-0 Portsmouth
