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Match Preview: Coventry v Oxford United

The Sky Blues return to Championship football once again this weekend as they face off against Oxford United at the CBS Arena.

Frank Lampard’s side will be looking to bounce back from consecutive away defeats against Norwich and QPR.

Following these defeats, the lead at the top of the table has been reduced to just goal difference between them and Middlesborough.

In the first of back-to-back home games, the league leaders will be looking to return to winning ways before a vital game against Middlesborough next week.

Opposition analysis

Team: Oxford United
Manager: Matt Bloomfield
League Position: 23rd
Points: 27
Record: P30 W6 D9 L15 GF28 GA41 GD-13
Top Scorer: Will Lankshear (6)
Last five: L L W D D

Sky Blues team news

Deadline day signing Frank Onyeka may not be available to make his debut, due to him and his wife expecting a baby imminently. Lampard is hopeful that he will be able to feature – but can not guarantee it.

Ephron Mason-Clark may be fit enough to be in the squad, however decision will be made after Friday’s training session after his underfoot injury. He should be ready for Middlesborough squad.

Oliver Dovin (injured) and Luke Bell (academy) have been deregistered from the registered 25 man squad to make way for new signings Jahnoah Markelo and Onyeka.

Dovin had a setback in his recovery from injury and is not expected to feature this season.

Last time out

The two sides last met at the end of August and played an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Kassam Stadium with a late equaliser from Cameron Brannagan stopped the Sky Blues taking the points.

Haji Wright opened the scoring early on before The O’s top scorer Will Lankshear levelled minutes later.

It looked like a peach-perfect free kick from Danish midfielder Victor Torp just before half-time was going to be the difference between the two teams, but Oxford managed to find another equaliser from Brannagan with a superb strike from the edge of the 18 yard box.

Ref Watch

The referee for this Championship clash will be Leicester-born Ruebyn Ricardo. 

He has refereed the Sky Blues once this season, in the reverse fixture of this game, which ended 2-2.

Score Prediction

Coventry City 3-1 Oxford.

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