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Oxford United

Team News, Form and Prediction as Oxford United Welcome Portsmouth

Oxford United will be looking for a first win in five when they welcome Portsmouth at Grenoble Road.

Gary Rowett’s side have three draws and one defeat from their last four league games, but three of those fixtures have been on the road.

Oxford United Welcome Portsmouth

Team News, Form and Prediction

The most recent of those stalemates came at Pride Park as Oxford played out a goalless draw against Derby. One area of frustration will be the fact that they’ve now scored just once in those four games.

As for Portsmouth, they won 2-1 at home against Cardiff on Tuesday night. However, John Mousinho’s side are very inconsistent, with two wins, one draw and three defeats in their last six league games. Pompey are also without a win in their last 12 away games in all competitions, losing ten, and have just seven points on their travels this season.

Oxford remain unbeaten at home in Gary Rowett’s five games at Grenoble Road but dropped points last time out against Bristol City. As a result, the U’s have picked up 29 points from their home fixtures.

Tom Bradshaw has joined Elliott Moore in the injury room but Stan Mills made his second debut after his return on a permanent basis during the January transfer window against Derby.

Pompey are without Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell, Paddy Lane and Jordan Williams, while Kusini Yengi is a doubt for the trip. Conor Shaughnessy made his return against Cardiff, where former U’s winger Josh Murphy provided two assists. The man who scored a brace for Oxford at Wembley has five goals and eight assists in the Championship so far this season.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Fratton Park. Pompey are unbeaten in the last six meetings, winning twice and drawing the other four. Oxford’s last win against Portsmouth did come at Grenoble Road.

Predicted line-up: Jamie Cumming, Greg Leigh, Ciaron Brown, Michal Helik, Peter Kioso, Will Vaulks, Cameron Brannagan, Siriki Dembele, Ruben Rodrigues, Tyler Goodrham, Mark Harris.

Prediction: Oxford United 2-1 Portsmouth

About Dale Ventham, Editor

Dale joined LWOF as a Football Writer in 2015 and has since been promoted to an editor for the site. He covers Oxford United with news, views and opinions.