Oxford United will be looking to impress again when the U’s take on Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night.
Karl Robinson’s side were 6-0 winners at Crewe on Saturday, moving them to four points off the playoffs, while the Shrews played out a goalless draw against Gillingham.
The last six games have provided two wins, two draws and two defeats for Steve Cotterill’s side, while the U’s have also won twice but suffered four defeats in the same period.
Josh Ruffels returned from injury against Crewe and opened the scoring, but Alex Rodriguez Gorrin remains a doubt with a groin injury. Aaron Pierre is a doubt for the visitors, despite a recent comeback.
Winger Shaun Whalley has netted seven times this season and added eight assists while Blackburn Rovers loanee Harry Chapman has found the net six times.
In defence, only six teams in the division have conceded fewer goals than Shrewsbury this season. However, Cotterill’s side have struggled for goals, with only four teams scoring less.
The two sides are yet to meet this season, with both fixtures still to take place in the remaining six games. The last time they faced each other was, what turned out to be, the final day of last season when Ruffels scored a later winner as the U’s came from two goals down to win 3-2. That result extended the U”s unbeaten run against Shrewsbury to four games, with just one goalless draw from those fixtures. Oxford have also recorded a 6-0 victory over Shrewsbury when the sides met at the Manor Ground in 1996.
Predicted line-up: Jack Stevens, Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Elliott Moore, Sam Long, Cameron Brannagan, James Henry, Mark Sykes, Brandon Barker, Elliot Lee, Matty Taylor.
Prediction: Oxford United 1-0 Shrewsbury Town
