Oxford vs Middlesbrough predictions: Boro to fall flat on their travels
- Oxford have lost just one of their eight home games in the Championship
- Middlesbrough have conceded eight goals in their last four league fixtures
- Recommended bet: Oxford win or draw double chance
Middlesbrough could break into the Championship play-off zone with a win at The Kassam Stadium on Saturday, although hosts Oxford may be a sterner test than many expect.
The U’s have lost three of their last four games, but they have put in their best work in front of their own fans and will be keen to avoid dropping further towards the relegation zone this weekend.
Team news
Oxford are without Joe Bennett, Matt Phillips, Kyle Edwards, Siriki Dembele, Louie Sibley, Max Woltman, and Jordan Thorniley, while Cameron Brannagan and Przemyslaw Placheta are doubts.
Manager Des Buckingham could reintroduce Idris El Mizouni back into the centre of midfield.
Middlesbrough may be without two key players in Hayden Hackney and Aidan Morris, while Tommy Smith, Alex Gilbert, Darragh Lenihan, Lukas Engel, Alex Bangura, and Rav van den Berg are all confirmed absentees.
The stats
Middlesbrough have only won three of their seven away games this term.
Oxford have drawn both home meetings with current top-seven sides in the Championship.
The U’s have the eighth-best home record in the division.
Boro’s last three games have produced 14 goals.
Prediction
Middlesbrough romped to a 5-1 win over Luton before the international break to leave them within touching distance of the Championship play-off positions, but their climb up the table may be halted at The Kassam Stadium.
Oxford, who sit 16th and seven points adrift of Boro, fell to yet another away defeat in their last outing, but they have proven a much more formidable outfit in front of their own fans and may be able to secure a result against the odds.
The U’s have lost just one of their eight Championship home games, with wins against Norwich, Preston, Stoke and Hull and draws against Burnley, West Brom, and Derby giving them the eighth-best home record in the second tier.
Boro have won only three of their seven away games this season and may be further hindered by injuries picked up by star midfield duo Hackney and Morris on international duty, with the pair listed as injury doubts ahead of this trip down south.
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