Oxford United welcome fellow promotion hopefuls Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night having lost last time out against league leaders Hull City.
The result saw Karl Robinson’s side drop one place to tenth and move to four points outside the playoffs. However, the U’s were fortunate in that some of the sides around them also dropped points.
Doncaster were one of those sides. Rovers were held to a goalless draw against a struggling Northampton Town side, a result which followed an away loss at Crewe on Tuesday.
Saturday was another game in which Matty Taylor failed to score for the U’s, while the club have managed just three goals in their last seven games. However, Oxford have kept three clean sheets during that run.
Donny’s last six results have been mixed. Two wins, two draws and two losses have shown an inconsistent side to a promotion-chasing team, and they have managed just one clean sheet during that run. In fact, they have managed just one shutout in ten.
Just six points separate the two sides. Both teams have conceded 39 goals in the league but Donny have netted five more.
Doncaster will be without Southampton loanee Josh Sims, while Scott Robinson is also a doubt. John Bostock and Omar Bogle could make a welcome return for the visitors.
Oxford are still without Sam Winnall, James Henry and Sam Long, while Anthony Forde is missing for personal reasons, but Elliot Lee returned on Saturday. Alex Rodriguez Gorrin sat the game out but will be ready for Rovers.
Left-back Reece James has scored seven times this season and added three assists while central midfielder Taylor Richards has added six with four assists. Fejiri Okenabirhie is the top scorer with 12.
Doncaster have won the last two meetings between the two sides but both fixtures have come at the Keepmoat Stadium, while this fixture ended in a 3-0 victory for the U’s last season. Before the two losses, Oxford were unbeaten in the previous six.
Predicted line-up: Jack Stevens, Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Elliott Moore, Jamie Hanson, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, Cameron Brannagan, Mark Sykes, Brandon Barker, Elliot Lee, Matty Taylor.
Prediction: Oxford United 1-0 Doncaster Rovers
