Oxford United will be looking for a third win on the bounce when the U’s make the trip to Millwall on New Year’s Day.
Gary Rowett has overseen successive home wins over Cardiff and Plymouth in his first two games in charge but the trip to his former club will ask different questions of his players.
Oxford United Travel to Millwall
Team News, Form and Prediction
It was important for the new head coach to get off to a positive start, particularly with the two teams faced also struggling at the wrong end of the table.
As for Millwall, they played out a goalless draw away at Coventry last time out and suffered a defeat at Norwich prior to that in life post-Neil Harris. They have since appointed former Sunderland head coach, Alex Neil, who takes charge for the first time against the U’s.
In their 14 games prior to those two, the Lions have five wins, five draws and four defeats. Of that run, they have failed to score or concede more than once.
Gary Rowett named an unchanged side against Plymouth but used his substitutes differently than against Cardiff, so there could be a change of personnel for this fixture with no new injury concerns.
The Lions have a few absentees for this fixture, including defenders, Jake Cooper and Danny McNamara, while attacker Josh Coburn is out and Aidomo Emakhu is a doubt.
Unsurprisingly, the two sides played out a 1-1 draw earlier in the season, but the U’s were unbeaten in the previous two. Oxford have also won on their last three visits to the New Den, with their last defeat coming in September, 2000.
Predicted line-up: Jamie Cumming, Greg Leigh, Ciaron Brown, Elliott Moore, Sam Long, Will Vaulks, Cameron Brannagan, Tyler Goodrham, Ruben Rodrigues, Przemyslaw Placheta, Dane Scarlett.
Prediction: Millwall 1-1 Oxford United
