{"id":538820,"date":"2019-12-23T13:46:10","date_gmt":"2019-12-23T18:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=538820"},"modified":"2019-12-23T13:46:10","modified_gmt":"2019-12-23T18:46:10","slug":"a-look-ahead-to-oxford-united-vs-lincoln-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/12\/23\/a-look-ahead-to-oxford-united-vs-lincoln-city\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look Ahead to Oxford United vs Lincoln City"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oxford United<\/a> will look to remain in the playoffs this Boxing Day when the U’s welcome former manager Michael Appleton<\/a> and his Lincoln City side to Grenoble Road.<\/p>\n

Karl Robinson’s side bounced back from a disappointing defeat at MK Dons<\/a> and elimination from the Carabao Cup against Manchester City<\/a> by beating table-topping Wycombe Wanderers<\/a> last time out, while The Imps lost at Coventry City, ending a run of two straight wins.<\/p>\n

A Look Ahead to Oxford United vs Lincoln City<\/h2>\n

Oxford United in Good Form<\/h3>\n

When the sides met in the reverse fixture at Sincil Bank, Oxford secured a club record away win in the Football League with an astonishing 6-0 victory<\/a>. It came one day after Appleton, who watched from the stands, had been appointed as the new Lincoln manager.<\/p>\n

Since then, the Imps have played 14 games in all competitions, winning just four and losing seven. They sit 16th in League One, just four points clear of the drop.<\/p>\n

Oxford moved back into the playoffs with their Wycombe win, but it’s tight at the top. They sit three points behind 2nd place, but just two points separate the U’s and 11th place in the league.<\/p>\n

Team News and Prediction<\/h3>\n

Robinson still has some key players sidelined, but James Henry<\/a>, who is the top scorer with eleven goals in all competitions, returned against the Chairboys and scored the winner.<\/p>\n

Henry also scored in that 6-0 drubbing, where Tariqe Fosu<\/a> netted a hat trick and Matty Taylor<\/a> scored his first U’s goal since returning to his boyhood club.<\/p>\n

Oxford have scored 38 goals in League One, but Lincoln have struggled at that end of the pitch and have the fourth-lowest goals for in the division with 21. But despite conceding six against the U’s, defensively they’ve been relatively sound.<\/p>\n

24-year-old left-back Harry Toffolo has played 27 games this season, scoring once and providing three assists, while former U’s loanee Jack Payne has scored twice this season.<\/p>\n

Midfielder Harry Anderson has scored four, while forwards Tyler Walker and John Akinde have scored ten and six respectively.<\/p>\n

Prediction: Oxford United 2-0 Lincoln City<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>