Preview: Oxford United vs Hull City – prediction, team news, lineups

Hull City will return from the worldwide window with a visit to the Kassam Stadium for a Championship assembly with Oxford United on Good Friday.

The Tigers at present occupy fifth spot within the league desk, whereas the U’s are languishing in 23rd position. 

Match preview

Oxford boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop with a run of three consecutive victories towards West Bromwich Albion, Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers.

However, the U’s survival bid misplaced some momentum with a irritating 1-1 draw at house to Charlton Athletic and a 2-0 defeat away to Southampton earlier than the worldwide break.

Matt Bloomfield‘s facet will return to motion with some extent separating them from twenty first-positioned Portsmouth, their Easter Monday opponents.

They will wish to go into that recreation on the again of a optimistic consequence towards Hull, though 4 defeats within the final six conferences counsel that can be simpler mentioned than performed.

That mentioned, the U’s may have good reminiscences of final season’s house conflict with the Tigers, which noticed Hidde ter Avest rating the decisive aim in a 1-0 victory on the Kassam Stadium. 

Oxford can be determined to strike first in Friday’s fixture, contemplating they’ve misplaced 15 of the 18 league video games through which they conceded the opening aim this season (D3). 

© Imago / Focus Images

In distinction to their opponents, Hull are working within the playoffs and dreaming of returning to the Premier League for the primary time since being relegated from the highest flight in 2016-17.

Hull nonetheless have an outdoor likelihood of automated promotion with 5 factors separating them from second-positioned Middlesbrough, though they might be extra involved with the three-level hole between themselves and Wrexham in seventh spot.

The Tigers skilled a combined run of kind, having received two and misplaced three of their earlier 5 Championship outings. 

After dropping to Ipswich Town and Millwall, Hull returned to profitable methods away to Wrexham, earlier than they have been rapidly stopped of their tracks by a 3-0 defeat to West Brom.

Sergej Jakirovic‘s facet then got here from behind to assert a 3-1 victory over basement facet Sheffield Wednesday, demonstrating why they’re the fourth-highest scorers within the division. 

If they will pull off one other win on Friday, it might signify their first league double over Oxford since 1975-76 after recording a 3-2 success in August’s reverse fixture. 

Oxford United Championship kind:

L W W W D L

Hull City Championship kind:

W L L W L W

Team News

© Imago / Pro Sports Images

Oxford are unable to name upon the injured trio of Greg Leigh, Brian De Keersmaecker and Tyler Goodrham. 

After dropping to the bench towards Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur loanee Jamie Donley may come again into the beginning lineup, simply days after scoring in Northern Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Wales. 

Will Lanskhear, who netted within the reverse fixture towards Hull, is anticipated to guide the road on Friday, with the striker wanting so as to add to the eight league targets he has scored this season. 

Hull, in the meantime, can be with out Ryan Giles, Matty Jacob, Akin Famewo, Darko Gyabi and David Akintola. 

Regan Slater is more likely to miss the ultimate seven video games of the season after sustaining an ankle harm within the win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Northern Ireland’s Paddy McNair and Nigeria’s Semi Ajayi must be match regardless of returning early from worldwide responsibility with minor harm points, and Charlie Hughes may also be obtainable after serving a one-match ban.

Oxford United potential beginning lineup:

Cumming; Long, Helik, Brown, Currie; Konak, Brannagan; Mills, Donley, Peart-Harris; Lankshear

Hull City potential beginning lineup:

Pandur; Hughes, Egan, McNair; Drameh, Hadziahmetovic, Crooks, Millar; Gelhardt, Koumas; McBurnie

We say: Oxford United 1-1 Hull City

Oxford have prevented defeat of their final three outings at Kassam Stadium, and we predict they are going to do sufficient to carry promotion-chasing Hull so as to add a helpful level of their quest to stay a Championship facet.

For information evaluation of the most certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.