Oxford United will be looking to bounce back from a fifth defeat in just seven league games when they travel to Fleetwood.
Karl Robinson’s side lost 2-0 at in-form Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night, just one week after recording their second league win of the season against MK Dons.
The U’s were due to play on Saturday, but their fixture against Swindon Town was postponed. As a result, Oxford are languishing in the bottom four ahead of a trip to one of their bogey teams.
The Cod Army saw off Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night, a result which followed a 2-0 win over Gillingham at the weekend. Although Joey Barton’s side have lost four times this season, they sit in tenth place on 13 points.
Rob Atkinson, Cameron Brannagan and Sam Winnall are all likely to miss out again, but there could be a return for John Mousinho in defence. It would be a welcome addition to an Oxford side that have conceded the joint second-highest amount of goals in League One this season.
Fleetwood have goals in their side. Harvey Saunders has scored eight times from 13 games and midfielder Callum Camps has five. Paddy Madden and Ched Evans have also added a further three, with the latter also laying on three assists.
Previous meetings against these two sides do not bode well for Oxford. In 11 meetings, Oxford are yet to pick up three points, having drawn twice and lost nine times. A win on Saturday would not only be a major boost for Robinson’s side, but it would also end a horrific run against the Lancashire side.
Predicted line-up: Simon Eastwood, Josh Ruffels, Sam Long, Elliott Moore, Sean Clare, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, Anthony Forde, Mark Sykes, Joel Cooper, James Henry, Matty Taylor.
Prediction: Fleetwood Town 1-1 Oxford United
