{"id":536040,"date":"2019-11-01T03:00:24","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T07:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=536040"},"modified":"2019-10-31T07:26:46","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T11:26:46","slug":"portsmouth-oxford-united-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/11\/01\/portsmouth-oxford-united-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Teams In Differing Form Meet As Portsmouth Host Oxford United"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oxford United<\/a> will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run of form to eleven games in all competitions when the U’s face Portsmouth<\/a>. Pompey themselves have had a disappointing start to the season and find themselves in 16th with just four league wins.<\/p>\n

Two Teams In Differing Form Meet As Portsmouth Host Oxford United<\/h2>\n

Oxford Look to Stretch Impressive Run<\/h3>\n

Following a 3-0 win at home to Tranmere Rovers<\/a> last month, Karl Robinson’s side have gone ten games unbeaten.<\/p>\n

During that run, the U’s recorded their biggest ever away win in the Football League following a 6-0 demolition at Lincoln City<\/a>, before hitting West Ham United<\/a> for four without reply in the Carabao Cup.<\/p>\n

The wins continued, recording four successive home 3-0 wins in the league, before an impressive away victory at Rotherham United<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And, on Tuesday night, the run reached double figures as Oxford reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup for the first time since 1988 following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Sunderland<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During the run, Robinson’s side have scored 29 goals and conceded just six. But the form is slightly different for this weekends opponents.<\/p>\n

Just four league wins and fifteen goals all season for Portsmouth have seen the promotion hopefuls propel down the table, raising concerns over manager Kenny Jackett.<\/p>\n

Despite boasting quality attacking options in the likes of John Marquis, Gareth Evans, Brett Pitman<\/a>, Ellis Harrison amongst others, Pompey have scored the fourth-lowest number of goals in the division, with two of those sides in the bottom four.<\/p>\n

Team News, Previous Meetings and Predictions<\/h3>\n

Chris Cadden<\/a> could return this weekend, but it’s likely Sam Long will start. Cameron Brannagan<\/a> is sidelined, as are\u00a0Malachi Napa<\/a>, Ben Woodburn<\/a> and George Thorne<\/a>.<\/p>\n

James Henry<\/a> and Tariqe Fosu<\/a> have both netted eight times for the U’s, with many players chipping in with crucial goals at critical times.<\/p>\n

Portsmouth don’t have any injury concerns or suspensions as they look to extend their unbeaten home run to four games following two 1-0 victories either side of a goalless draw with Gillingham.<\/p>\n

Oxford won the last league meeting between the two sides at the Kassam, but lost 4-1 and 3-0 on their last two visits to Fratton Park.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Portsmouth 1-2 Oxford United<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

  Embed from Getty Images<\/a>