Sheffield United will continue their promotion push when they travel to the Kassam Stadium for Saturday’s meeting with relegation-threatened Oxford United.
The U’s head into the weekend in 19th position, while the Blades are sitting top of the Championship standings with seven matches left to play.
Match preview
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Oxford went into the March international window with renewed belief after they ended a nine-game winless run with a narrow 1-0 home win over Watford.
However, they were unable to build upon that result in their first game back from the two-week break, falling to a 2-1 away defeat against Middlesbrough despite taking the lead through Michal Helik.
Kelechi Iheanacho netted an equaliser in the opening stages of the second period, before Neto Borges scored an 80th-minute winner to condemn Oxford to their third defeat in four away league games, meaning they are now winless in nine consecutive Championship road trips since beating Millwall on New Year’s Day.
In fact, Oxford have the joint second-worst away record in the division, highlighting a key factor as to why they are sitting just two points adrift of safety ahead of Saturday’s home meeting with promotion-chasing Sheffield United.
The U’s have lost each of their previous five competitive matches against the Blades, conceding three goals in four of those defeats.
As a result, they head into Saturday’s fixture with hopes of claiming their first head-to-head victory since recording a 2-1 away win in March 1999.
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Sheffield United moved to the top of the Championship table with a comfortable 3-1 win in last Friday’s meeting with Coventry City at Bramall Lane.
Gustavo Hamer, Tyrese Campbell and Rhian Brewster all found the net to give the Blades an unassailable lead, before Coventry’s Jack Rudoni netted a consolation in the second minute of stoppage time.
Impressively, Sheffield United have now won four and drawn one of their last five matches since losing 3-1 to promotion rivals Leeds on January 24.
However, with just two points separating them from Leeds and Burnley, Chris Wilder will be well aware his team cannot afford to rest on their laurels if they are to secure an immediate return to the top flight.
Having collected 40 points from 19 road trips, the Blades head into the weekend with the division’s best away record, and they will also be in a confident mood after winning each of their previous six away matches.
Sheffield United, who eased to a 3-0 victory over Oxford in November’s reverse fixture, now have the chance to set a new club record by claiming seven successive away league games for the first time in their history.
Team News
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Oxford remain without long-term absentee Max Woltman, while there are doubts surrounding the defensive trio of Elliott Moore, Joe Bennett and Greg Leigh.
Matt Phillips will have to be assessed after he was forced off at half time of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Middlesbrough.
Cameron Brannagan and Idris El Mizouni will hope to return to the matchday squad after missing out last weekend due to injury and illness respectively.
As for the visitors, they are expected to be without Rhys Norrington-Davies, Harry Clarke, Oliver Arblaster, Tom Davies and Jamie Shackleton.
Midfielder Vini Souza remains an injury doubt after missing Sheffield United’s last three matches with a hamstring issue.
Having scored four goals across the last five matches, Campbell will be looking to continue his fine form when he leads the line against Oxford.
Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Cumming; Ter Avest, Helik, Nelson, Brown; Vaulks, Brannagan; Placheta, Matos, Dembele; Harris
Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Seriki, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Burrows; Peck, Choudhury; Brereton Diaz, Brewster, Hamer; Campbell
We say: Oxford United 0-2 Sheffield United
Sheffield United have been in imperious form in recent times, dropping just two points from their last five league games, as well as winning each of their previous six away matches.
As a result, we think the Blades will continue to build momentum by outclassing their relegation-threatened opponents at the weekend.
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