Bristol City vs Oxford predictions: Robins and U's both look vulnerable

Gareth Freeman
Spotlight
Liam Manning's Bristol City have won just once in five league games this season.
Liam Manning's Bristol City have won just once in five league games this season.

- Bristol City are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.
- Oxford United have conceded in eight of their last 10 away games.
- Recommended bet:
Both teams to score

Oxford United booked their place in the Championship by seeing off Bolton Wanderers in the League One play-off final last season.

The U’s' priority this term will be survival and it is a case of so far so good for Des Buckingham’s men as they have nine points from a possible 15 already.

Bristol City will feel they should be challenging for the top six spots this year after finishing nine points off the play-offs last season, but they have endured a tough start and have just one point to show from their last three games.

However, the Robins are usually a force at home and they go into the game as favourites against an Oxford side that have three defeats in as many games on the road in all competitions.

Team news

The hosts are without injury victims Rob Dickie, Ross McCrorie, Rob Atkinson and George Earthy, while boss Liam Manning is almost certain to make a few changes after consecutive 3-0 losses.

Sinclair Armstrong, Haydon Roberts and Yu Hirakawa are among those pushing for starting spots for the Robins.

Oxford head into the game seeking a third straight win and Buckingham should stick largely with the side who downed Stoke 1-0 last weekend.

However, he will be forced to make one change as Cameron Brannagan picked up a knock against the Potters and Ruben Rodrigues seems his most likely replacement.

The stats

Bristol City have the joint-worst defensive record in the division, having conceded 11 goals in five games.

Oxford have lost all three of their away games, two in the league, one in the EFL Cup.

The Robins have scored in seven consecutive Championship home games, while both teams have scored in both of Oxford’s away league games.

Prediction

Despite their poor form, City are the clear favourites to win this game and that is perhaps understandable as the majority of their problems have come on the road and Oxford arrive with a poor away record.

However, at a bigger price the standout bet here is backing both teams to score as both attacks look capable and both defences look vulnerable.

There have been goals at both ends in both of the Robins' home league games and in both of Oxford’s away Championship assignments.

In Mark Harris, Oxford have one of the league’s in-form forwards as he has four goals already and they look capable of scoring against one of the division’s worst defences, but City have scored in seven straight home league games and it is hard to see them drawing a blank against the promoted U’s as well. 

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