- Date & Time: Friday April 19, 20:00 BST
- Venue: Kassam Stadium, Oxford
- Teams: Oxford vs Stevenage
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Oxford look to bounce back against managerless Stevenage
Oxford United, currently in sixth place, seeks redemption after their recent loss to Lincoln City as they prepare to face Stevenage in Friday’s League One matchup. Meanwhile, Stevenage find themselves manager-less following Steve Evans’ departure to Rotherham United for his second stint at the helm. The game promises an intriguing clash, with Oxford aiming to rebound and consolidate their playoff place and Stevenage, who’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, looking to get their season back on track for the run in while navigating through transitional waters.
Oxford United
Oxford United suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Lincoln in their recent match, with Daniel Mandriou’s 47th-minute penalty sealing victory for the opposition. Despite this setback, Oxford remains in sixth place, holding a slender two-point lead over Lincoln and a three-point advantage over eighth-placed Blackpool.
To secure a playoff berth this weekend, Oxford must claim victory against Stevenage while hoping that both Lincoln and Blackpool stumble in their respective fixtures against Cheltenham Town and Barnsley.
In their previous encounter with Stevenage earlier this season, Oxford secured a convincing 3-1 win, courtesy of goals from Greg Leigh (2) and Elliott Moore. They will look to replicate that performance and secure the crucial three points needed to bolster their playoff aspirations.
Kyle Edwards and Will Goodwin are both still unavailable while James Henry could also be absent after missing the Lincoln game with an ankle injury. Moore has missed the last two games and faces a late fitness test. Joe Bennett, who has missed the last three games with injury, is hoping to be fit.
Stevenage
Stevenage’s playoff aspirations have taken a hit with their recent string of poor performances, managing only one victory in their last 10 matches. Although they ended an eight-game winless streak with a 2-1 win over Barnsley, they suffered a narrow defeat to relegation-threatened Burton Albion in their following game.
Kane Hemmings’ 88th-minute goal against Burton Albion provided a brief moment of hope after falling behind by two goals, but it wasn’t enough to salvage the match. This defeat also marked Steve Evans’s final game in charge, as he departed to join Rotherham as their third manager of the season, signing a three-year deal.
With Evans’s departure, interim manager Alex Revell will now lead Stevenage in their remaining fixtures against Oxford and Cheltenham. It’s a challenging situation for the team, but they’ll aim to finish the season on a positive note despite the changes in leadership.
Taye Ashby-Hammond, Luther James-Wildin, Alex MacDonald and Jake Forster-Caskey are all likely to be unavailable for the visitors. Dan Butler was shown a straight red card in the defeat to Burton on Saturday. The full-back will therefore begin a three-match suspension against Oxford. Finley Burns, on loan from Manchester City is a doubt.
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Oxford United vs Stevenage Odds
These are the live odds for the match.
Prediction
We are tipping Oxford to bounce back from the Lincoln defeat and claim the three points. It is vital that they get back on track for their playoff aspirations. Stevenage may be subdued after their recent poor form and after the departure of Evans. We predict a home win.
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