Oxford United face Doncaster Rovers on Saturday with two teams in fine form. The U’s have broken a club record of successive wins and are now nine games with maximum points while third-placed Rovers have won their last four league games.
Oxford were victorious on Tuesday evening in the Football League Trophy with a 3-1 win over AFC Wimbledon, a result which followed a 1-0 league win over Fleetwood.
Rovers, meanwhile, are fresh off the back of a 1-0 win over then-league leaders Lincoln City. Darren Moore’s side have lost just one game from their last nine league games, winning the other eight.
Oxford’s recent resurgence has lifted them to tenth in League One but just three points off the playoffs and with games in hand on some of the sides above them. Doncaster are three points behind Hull City and Lincoln but also have games in hand.
Deadline day signing Joe Grayson made his debut on Tuesday night, coming on as a half time substitute. The U’s also snapped up Elliot Lee and Brandon Barker on Monday, while Luke McNally arrived a few days earlier. Derick Osei Yaw left to join Walsall on loan while Jordan Obita departed for Wycombe.
The one major departure for Doncaster was Ben Whiteman, who joined Preston North End in a seven figure sum. However, Darren Moore brought seven new faces in, including Omar Bogle, Joe Lumley and Josh Sims.
Mide Shodipo took his goal tally to nine for the season in Tuesday night, two behind Matty Taylor. For Rovers, Fejiri Okenabirhie has scored ten, including seven in the league. Midfielder Taylor Richards and left-back Reece James have five while Madger Gomes has four from midfield.
Doncaster won this fixture 1-0 on New Year’s Day last season but the U’s had won the home game 3-0. The Donny win was the first in seven meetings between the two sides, with Oxford winning three and drawing three. Doncaster have never won back to back games against the U’s.
Predicted line-up: Jack Stevens, Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Elliott Moore, Sam Long, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, Cameron Brannagan, Liam Kelly, Mide Shodipo, James Henry, Matty Taylor.
Prediction: Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Oxford United
