In a relegation six-pointer, Oxford United will welcome Cardiff City to the Kassam Stadium on Thursday in their 22nd Championship game of the season.
The hosts were beaten 4-0 by Leeds United on December 21 and are second last in 23rd place with 18 points, whereas their opponents are level on points in 22nd place and lost 2-0 against Sheffield United last Saturday.
Match preview
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Oxford were thoroughly outplayed by Leeds on the weekend given they faced five big chances, were subject to 23 shots and conceded nearly three xG.
New manager Gary Rowett was appointed on December 20, replacing Des Buckingham, but he watched from the stands as his side fell to their 11th defeat of the league season.
Their loss was their sixth in their last seven games, a period in which they conceded 20 goals while only scoring four times.
Rowett inherits a side that have won just once in their past 16 fixtures and have won one, drawn four and lost three of their eight most recent matches at home.
The U's have netted 21 times and conceded on 37 occasions in the second tier, and these are the division's joint second-worst offensive and third-worst defensive records.
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Cardiff come into Thursday's clash having lost 2-0 against Sheffield United, though they should be credited for a spirted display given they restricted the Blades to just one big chance across 90 minutes.
Boss Omer Riza chose to focus on the positives from the game, telling reporters: "It's disappointing at the end, but the better team won. In general, I thought we worked hard and the boys showed good endeavour and good levels of intensity. Those are the things we spoke about needing to have when we play at home."
The Bluebirds occupy the league's final relegation spot but are just one point from 21st-placed Hull City, who have played an additional game in the Championship.
Riza's side are in poor form, with the club having lost five and drawn three of their last eight outings, conceding 14 and scoring six.
The visitors have been somewhat harder to beat away from home given they have held their opponents to a stalemate five times in their last six games, but they are winless on the road in 10 attempts.
Team News
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Oxford defender Joseph Bennett will not return from injury until later January, while midfielder Louie Sibley could make his comeback early next month.
Centre-backs Elliott Moore and Ciaron Brown may be flanked by full-backs Peter Kioso and Greg Leigh, and the quartet could start behind a midfield three featuring Tyler Goodrham, Will Vaulks and Cameron Brannagan.
Winger Siriki Dembele is likely to be out until early January due to an ankle injury, so expect to see Przemyslaw Placheta and Owen Dale support striker Mark Harris.
Cardiff have an extensive injury list and will not be able to call upon forwards Isaak Davies, Michael Reindorf, Ollie Tanner and Chris Willock, though Willock could return in the next few days.
Perhaps the visitors will field a forward line consisting of Anwar El Ghazi, Yakou Meite and Rubin Colwill.
Midfielders Aaron Ramsey and David Turnbull are not available for selection, and will be joined on the sidelines by defenders Perry Ng and Ryotaro Tsunoda.
Manolis Siopis and Alex Robertson could start in a double pivot ahead of centre-backs Jesper Daland, Dimitris Goutas and Calum Chambers.
Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Cumming; Kioso, Moore, Brown, Leigh; Goodrham, Vaulks, Brannagan; Placheta, Harris, Dale
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Alnwick; Daland, Goutas, Chambers; Rinomhota, Siopis, Robertson, Bagan; Colwill, Meite, El Ghazi
We say: Oxford United 2-1 Cardiff City
Oxford have significantly fewer injury concerns than Cardiff, and they are likely to come into the game energised by the arrival of their new manager.
It is difficult to see either side keeping a clean sheet given their poor form of late, but Oxford could be buoyed by their home crowd to a victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
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