Oxford vs Swansea predictions: Goal-shy pair look tough to split

Ian Wilkerson
Spotlight
Oxford boss Des Buckingham has seen his side go seven games without a win in the Championship.
Oxford boss Des Buckingham has seen his side go seven games without a win in the Championship.

- Oxford are hoping to end a run of seven games without a win
- Swansea are winless in six and claimed one away win all season
- Recommended bet:
Draw

Both Oxford and Swansea have made unspectacular starts to the Championship season and will be looking to get the wind into their sails on the approach to Christmas so they can avoid a relegation scrap.

With United having failed to win any of their last seven games and Swansea enduring their own winless run, a victory would be welcome for both sides at the Kassam Stadium.

Team news

The game looks to have come too early for Oxford’s Kyle Edwards, Matt Phillips and Przemyslaw Placheta, while Siriki Dembele is still trying to shake off the knock that kept him out of last week’s 2-0 loss at table-toppers Sunderland.

The Swans are without South Korean winger Ji-Sung Eom, who suffered a knee ligament injury in a recent international.

The stats

Oxford have drawn five of their last seven Championship matches, while United have lost one of their last 13 games on their own patch.

Six of Oxford’s seven games at the Kassam Stadium this season have featured fewer than three goals.

Under 1.5 goals was a winning bet in eight of Swansea’s 12 Championship games this season, while City have scored in just one of their six away matches this term.

Prediction

Oxford and Swansea still find themselves in a congested middle of the Championship table despite their barren runs, but it is difficult to trust either of them to claim what would be a valuable win at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.

The U's have not won any of their last seven games, although that run has included five draws, while their decent home record goes back to last season’s League One promotion campaign.

However, they may still not quite have enough to get past Swansea, whose 12 league games this season have featured just 16 goals and it is worth remembering the home side have scored more than once in just one of their last eight outings.

The Swans won 2-1 at Coventry – against a team who have underwhelmed this term after a couple of strong seasons – but that has been the only occasion Luke Williams’ team have found the net on their travels this term.

Oxford have plainly had problems getting over the line in recent weeks and, against a team who have not conceded more than one goal in any second tier match this season, chances may be at a premium.

The odds are short that this clash will not feature many goals and that should boost the chances that the game finishes level, so there looks to be value in backing the draw.

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