Struggling Plymouth travel to Oxford on Sunday afternoon, searching for a first win in nine matches. With both sides desperate to avoid the drop, read on for our Oxford Utd vs Plymouth predictions and more.
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Oxford Utd vs Plymouth prediction: A real six pointer
- Oxford and Plymouth have the worst defences in the league, with 39 and 49 goals conceded already.
- Neither side has kept a clean sheet in eight matches.
- Oxford have four points from their last five, Plymouth have just one
Correct score prediction: Oxford Utd 2-1 Plymouth
Plymouth are rapidly spiralling downward at present, with results seemingly getting worse with each passing week.
Oxford have hardly been stellar, but their Boxing Day lifted them out of the relegation zone, and they have the 12th best home record in the league. We only foresee more misery for Wayne Rooney and co here.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Home advantage
HOME: 17/20 (1.85) – 54.1%
DRAW: 13/5 (3.60) – 27.8%
AWAY: 3/1 (4.00) – 25.0%
*Odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The bookmakers' expected winner in this game is Oxford Utd. Their odds of 17/20 imply a 54.1% likelihood of victory, an outcome we back.
Feel free to take a look at our football betting tips page to check out our other predictions and tips!
Recent H2Hs: Plymouth in charge
Plymouth have had the upper hand of late against Oxford, with four straight wins.
However, all of those meetings have come in League One, as their scheduled meeting earlier this month was cancelled due to adverse weather. Will they translate their dominance to the Championship?
England Championship 07/12/24
Plymouth
Oxford Utd
England League 1 14/02/23
Oxford Utd
Plymouth
England League 1 13/09/22
Plymouth
Oxford Utd
England League 1 02/04/22
Plymouth
Oxford Utd
England League 1 16/10/21
Oxford Utd
Plymouth
Oxford Utd preview: Home is where the heart is
Oxford started the season fast, with three wins in their first six. But they quickly felt the strain of their new environs post-promotion.
A run of one win in 16 was finally ended by a victory over fellow strugglers Cardiff. It underlined Oxford's reliance on their home form. 19 of their 21 points have come at the Kassam Stadium.
They welcome another relegation candidate this weekend, and we think that tally will become 22.
Predicted lineup: Cumming (GK), Long, Moore, Brown, Leigh, Placheta, Vaulks, Brannagan, Goodrham, Rodrigues, Harris
England Championship 03/05/25
D
Swansea
3
Oxford Utd
3
England Championship 26/04/25
W
Sunderland
0
Oxford Utd
2
England Championship 21/04/25
D
Cardiff
1
Oxford Utd
1
England Championship 18/04/25
L
Leeds
1
Oxford Utd
0
England Championship 12/04/25
W
Sheff Wed
0
Oxford Utd
1
Plymouth preview: Injuries and pressure mounting
Eyebrows were raised when Plymouth hired England and Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney this summer.
After a strong start, things have unravelled, and Argyle have picked up just one win in their last 13, and have been conceding goals at a frightening pace.
Results like Boxing Day's 4-0 defeat to Coventry have become worryingly routine.
To make matters worse, the Devon side will have eight players out for this key clash.
Predicted lineup: Grimshaw (GK), Pleguzuelo, Gibson, Szucs, Mumba, Randell, Bundu, Al Hajj, Gyabi, Isseka, Gray
England Championship 03/05/25
L
Leeds
2
Plymouth
1
England Championship 26/04/25
W
Preston
1
Plymouth
2
England Championship 21/04/25
W
Coventry
1
Plymouth
3
England Championship 18/04/25
L
Middlesbrough
2
Plymouth
1
England Championship 12/04/25
W
Sheff Utd
1
Plymouth
2
Player to watch: Przemyslaw Placheta
Our player to watch in this one is Oxford's Przemyslaw Placheta. The former Norwich winger, blessed with blistering pace, could be the undoing of Plymouth.
Placheta, a Polish international, got an assist last time out against Cardiff, as well as a Christmas cracker of a strike to round out a brilliant Boxing Day for Oxford.