Oxford United welcome Crewe Alexandra in Tuesday nights rearranged League One clash. The U’s we’re supposed to face the newly-promoted side on Saturday, 3 October, but the game was postponed just 35 minutes before kick-off after news emerged that a member of the Crewe squad had tested positive for coronavirus.
The U’s suffered a 3-1 defeat at Gillingham on Saturday – their third defeat from four games – while Crewe picked up their second win of the campaign, easing past Wigan Athletic.
Karl Robinson welcomed back Josh Ruffels from his injury on Saturday, while Alex Rodriguez Gorrin made the bench. It’s likely that Rob Atkinson could also return, having sat out the trip to Kent .
Mikael Mandron scored his second league goal of the season against Wigan, taking his tally to four in all competitions. Left-back Harry Pickering has also scored twice this season.
For Oxford, Matty Taylor’s brace at Accrington over two weeks ago was the defining moment in their first league win of the season. Derick Osei Yaw scored in the Football League Trophy against Bristol Rovers, while Dan Agyei opened his league account against the Gills.
There haven’t been too many meetings between these sides. Both teams have recorded six wins each, with five games ending level. Crewe did the double over the U’s when the sides last met in League Two back in 2011/12.
Predicted line-up: Simon Eastwood, Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Elliott Moore, Sean Clare, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, Cameron Brannagan, Mark Sykes, Dan Agyei, James Henry, Matty Taylor.
Prediction: Oxford United 1-1 Crewe Alexandra
