Oxford United will be looking to bounce back from their defeat at Burnley when the U’s travel to Derby on Tuesday night.
It will be the second time in just a few weeks that Gary Rowett will face up against a former club, but it did result in Oxford’s first away win of the season at Millwall on New Year’s Day.
Oxford United Travel to Derby
Team News, Form and Prediction
The defeat at Turf Moor was a first in ten league games since the new head coach replaced Des Buckingham at the end of December.
As for Derby, they lost seven consecutive league games before picking up a point at Norwich last time out, and have won just twice in their last 17. However, both of those victories did come at Pride Park against Portsmouth and West Brom, respectively. As a result, the club made the decision to part ways with Paul Warne prior to their trip to Norwich.
Elliott Moore is the only absentee for this game but there could be a place in the matchday squad for former Everton loanee, Stan Mills, who made a permanent return to the club in the January transfer window.
Former U’s defender Curtis Nelson is one of several Rams players out injured, along with Nat Phillips, Kane Wilson, Dajaune Brown, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Callum Elder.
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Grenoble Road back in October. That was the first stalemate between the two clubs in the last nine meetings, with Derby winning five and Oxford victorious in the other three. However, the U’s won on their last visit to Pride Park with Mark Harris scoring a brace.
Predicted line-up: Jamie Cumming, Greg Leigh, Ciaron Brown, Michal Helik, Peter Kioso, Alex Matos, Cameron Brannagan, Siriki Dembele, Tyler Goodrham, Przemyslaw Placheta, Mark Harris.
Prediction: Derby County 0-2 Oxford United
