Relegation-threatened Oxford United welcome Cheltenham Town to the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday, looking to create a bit of daylight in the League One relegation scrap.

The rescheduled game between clubs separated by four places in the standings could see the home team bounce back from the weekend's defeat by Barnsley, while the Robins beat relegated Forest Green Rovers in their most recent league match.

Match preview

There seems to be negativity surrounding Oxford in their battle to stay in League One after another loss in the competition extended their astounding winless run.

Liam Manning — appointed by the U's in March — inherited the club's two-month sequence without a win, and that run has now become three, with the team's last victory coming against Ipswich Town on January 24.

Exactly 17 matches have been played since, and the wretched form sees the club from Oxfordshire sit outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

However, Manning needs to manufacture wins from somewhere with three games to go, especially as resurgent Morecambe have secured seven points from their last three.

Oxford and 21st-placed Morecambe are level on points, with Cambridge United only a point back of the pair, so this week could see several twists in the scrap to avoid relegation.

Cheltenham's recent three-game unbeaten run has put some daylight between themselves and the bottom four teams in League One.

Wade Elliott's men are five places above relegation, even if Saturday's 3-1 success over Forest Green saw them move nine points clear of the drop with three games to go, effectively securing their participation in League One next season.

That triumph eased any late-season jitters of being dragged into a relegation scrap, and the Robins can approach the season's final fixtures with minimal anxiety.

Elliott's troops have been beaten only once since the start of March, a 2-0 loss at Lincoln City, but a series of draws means they are not higher in the table.

Their abysmal away record in the New Year has seen Cheltenham lose seven of 10 matches on the road, claiming two victories and drawing once.

Team News

Gatlin O'Donkor went off in the 2-0 defeat against Barnsley, and it remains to be seen if the striker is available for Oxford on Tuesday.

Manning is not expected to deviate from his preferred 4-2-3-1 approach for the visit of the Robins.

Elliot was without the injured James Olayinka against Forest Green on Saturday, and the Cheltenham boss may have to make do without the midfielder on Tuesday.

The Robins lost Aidan Keena to injury after 68 minutes, making the striker a doubt for their rescheduled midweek fixture.

The away side's boss should utilise a 3-5-2 at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Eastwood; Long, Moore, Findlay, Brown; McGuane, Brannagan; Goodrham, Smyth, Joseph; Browne

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Long, Taylor, Freestone; Jackson, Broom, Bonds, Sercombe, Ferry; Goodwin, May

We say: Oxford United 1-1 Cheltenham Town

Oxford have netted just six goals in their last eight games at the Kassam Stadium, and Cheltenham have lost seven of their 10 road matches in 2023.

Neither side can be backed for success on Tuesday night, making a stalemate likely.


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