FA Cup

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FA Cup | Third Round

Jan 6, 2024 at 12.30pm UK

The Coventry Building Society Arena

Coventry
6 - 2
Oxford Utd

Latibeaudiere (8'), Sheaf (11'), Palmer (17'), O'Hare (50' pen.), Godden (84', 88')
Sheaf (90+1')

FT(HT: 3-1)

Harris (10'), Goodrham (79')
Brannagan (15'), Rodrigues (30'), McEachran (32')

Preview: Coventry City vs. Oxford United - prediction, team news, lineups

By Matt Law, Football Editor

Published: January 4 2024 | 18:34

Last updated: June 5 2024 | 14:27

Sports Mole previews Saturday's FA Cup clash between Coventry City and Oxford United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

In-form Championship outfit Coventry City will aim to book their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup when they host League One side Oxford United on Saturday afternoon.

The Sky Blues will enter the match off the back of a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough in the Championship on New Year's Day, while Oxford recorded a 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic in their last game in the third tier.

Match preview

Coventry City manager Mark Robins on December 8, 2023 © Reuters

Coventry suffered Championship playoff heartbreak last season, losing on penalties to Luton Town in the final, but they are again in the playoff mix at this stage of the 2023-24 campaign, picking up 37 points from their 26 matches to sit in eighth position in the table.

Mark Robins's side only three points behind sixth-placed Sunderland, and they are unbeaten in their last seven Championship matches, winning four times during that run.

The Sky Blues recorded a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough on New Year's Day, with the visitors netting three times without reply after Josh Coburn had sent the hosts ahead at the Riverside Stadium.

Robins's team lost 4-3 to Wrexham in the third round of last season's FA Cup, but they have won this competition, lifting the trophy in 1987 courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the final.

Coventry last locked horns with Oxford in August 2019, and the League One contest finished 3-3, but there has been a winner in 13 of their 14 previous meetings in all competitions, with the Sky Blues leading the overall head-to-head eight victories to five.

Coventry City's Callum O'Hare celebrates scoring their first goal on December 8, 2023 © Reuters

Oxford are also pushing for promotion this season, with the U's currently sitting fifth in the League One table, boasting 46 points from their opening 25 matches of the campaign.

Des Buckingham's side are three points ahead of seventh-placed Stevenage and will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 victory at Charlton on New Year's Day.

The Yellows have had to win twice to advance to the third round of this season's FA Cup, beating both Maidenhead United and Grimsby Town 2-0 in front of their own supporters.

Oxford will be up against it this weekend, but Coventry might have one eye on next weekend's huge Championship clash with Leicester City, which could play into the away team's hands in this match.

The U's have won four of their last five matches in the FA Cup, but they were beaten 3-0 by Arsenal in the third round of last season's competition.

Coventry City form (all competitions):

Oxford United FA Cup form:

Oxford United form (all competitions):

Team News

Coventry City's Yasin Ayari celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on September 25, 2023 © Reuters

Coventry will welcome Liam Kitching back into their squad this weekend, with the defender serving a suspension in the team's 3-1 success over Middlesbrough last time out.

The Sky Blues have not reported any fitness issues from the contest with Boro, but there are expected to be a number of changes to the starting side, with some squad players set to be given chances to impress.

Fabio Tavares, Kyle McFadzean and Jamie Allen could be among those to come into the side, while Matthew Godden and Jay Dasilva are also set to start on Saturday afternoon.

As for Oxford, head coach Buckingham could name the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Grimsby in the previous round of the competition.

Mark Harris and Cameron Brannagan have both netted seven times for the U's this season, and the pair are expected to be in the starting side for this contest.

Ruben Rodrigues, who has netted six times in 29 appearances, is also set to be in the first XI for the League One outfit, with Buckingham expected to select a strong side.

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Wilson; Dasilva, McFadzean, Binks, Tavares; Sakamoto, Allen, Palmer, Wright; O'Hare; Godden

Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Beadle; Stevens, Moore, Thorniley, Brown; Brannagan, McGuane; Mills, Rodrigues, Murphy; Harris

SM words green background

We say: Coventry City 3-1 Oxford United

Oxford are more than capable of making it three wins in this season's competition against a Coventry side that are unlikely to be at full-strength. The hosts are in strong form at the moment, though, and we are backing them to secure their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.