Relegation-threatened Cambridge United host an out-of-form Oxford United on Saturday in a League One match which can hardly be called a rivalry, despite the enmity between the universities linked to each town.

Both sides are enduring dire stretches of form, extending their winless sequences during the midweek round of fixtures as Cambridge lost to Cheltenham Town and Oxford suffered a reverse at the hands of league-leading Plymouth Argyle.

Match preview

Cambridge last tasted the sweet nectar of victory on Boxing Day, losing six of their previous eight games since coming from behind to beat Shrewsbury Town during the festive period.

Joe Ironside converted a second-half penalty to haul Cambridge level against Cheltenham in midweek, but the team's increasingly leaky rearguard could not prevent James Olayinka from snatching three points - though no one could be blamed for Elliot Bonds's stunning opener from all of 40 yards.

Cambridge, who sit second-bottom in League One, have conceded more goals in 2023 than any other third-tier side, shipping 19 in their last eight outings.

Things are not any rosier at the other of the garden for the joint-lowest scorers in League One this season, boasting just 25 goals in 30 games, 11 behind the tally racked up by Oxford.

However, the Abbey has provided some light relief for its hosts this season, serving as the setting for 18 of the 26 points Cambridge have earned - only Morecambe have collected a higher proportion of points on home turf in League One.

Oxford may be seven places and ten points better off, but the U's can match Cambridge for league defeats this calendar year.

Karl Robinson's side cantered into the Christmas season in excellent form, going ten games unbeaten across all competitions while teeing up a glitzy FA Cup third-round tie against Premier League heavyweights Arsenal.

However, Oxford have been in free fall since mid-January, losing five of their last six matches in a run of form which has left Robinson "frustrated and angered".

Only rock-bottom Forest Green Rovers have kept fewer clean sheets than Oxford this season, although one of their three shutouts came in a 1-0 victory against Cambridge in August.

The cerebral institutions looming over these clubs have played out their rivalry across scores of sporting and intellectual disciplines over the past 800 years, but these two football teams have only met 29 times, with Oxford collecting eight wins to Cambridge's 12.

Cambridge have not beaten Oxford in league action since a 5-1 mauling when the pair shared the fourth division in 2014 - a victory which remains the largest winning margin in this fixture.

Team News

Cambridge manager Mark Bonner has been without Adam May since the midfielder suffered a season-ending cruciate ligament injury in October.

Harvey Knibbs missed the midweek defeat to Cheltenham after sustaining a knock against Barnsley last Saturday, clouding his availability this weekend in uncertainty.

The combative midfielder Paul Digby has collected five yellow cards in his last six appearances and is one booking shy of a suspension-inducing tenth of the season.

Stephan Negru is yet to feature for the U's since joining from Irish side Shelbourne in January, making the squad for just two matches before an ankle injury hampered his start to life in Oxfordshire.

Oxford could be without the former Lazio full-back Djavan Anderson for as long as a month while the 27-year-old nurses a hip flexor injury.

Cambridge United possible starting lineup:
Mitov; Morrison, R Bennett, Jones; L Bennett, Digby, McGrandles, Brophy; Lankester; Ironside, Smith

Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Eastwood; Long, Moore, Brown, Fleming; Bate, McGuane, Brannagan; Goodrham, Joseph, Wildschut

We say: Cambridge United 1-3 Oxford United

Whichever way you slice it, Cambridge have been one of the worst teams in League One this season, which naturally gives almost every opponent the edge.

Oxford may not be purring themselves, but Robinson's side should have enough to extend Cambridge's woeful start to 2023 by ending their own run of poor form.

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