Preview: Oxford United vs Hull City – prediction, team news, lineups

Hull City will return from the worldwide window with a visit to the Kassam Stadium for a Championship assembly with Oxford United on Good Friday.

The Tigers at present occupy fifth spot within the league desk, whereas the U’s are languishing in 23rd position.

Match preview

Oxford boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop with a run of three consecutive victories in opposition to West Bromwich Albion, Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers.

However, the U’s survival bid misplaced some momentum with a irritating 1-1 draw at house to Charlton Athletic and a 2-0 defeat away to Southampton earlier than the worldwide break.

Matt Bloomfield‘s facet will return to motion with a degree separating them from twenty first-positioned Portsmouth, their Easter Monday opponents.

They will wish to go into that recreation on the again of a optimistic consequence in opposition to Hull, though 4 defeats within the final six conferences counsel that will probably be simpler mentioned than finished.

That mentioned, the U’s could have good reminiscences of final season’s house conflict with the Tigers, which noticed Hidde ter Avest rating the decisive purpose in a 1-0 victory on the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford might be determined to strike first in Friday’s fixture, contemplating they’ve misplaced 15 of the 18 league video games during which they conceded the opening purpose this season (D3).

In distinction to their opponents, Hull are working within the playoffs and dreaming of returning to the Premier League for the primary time since being relegated from the highest flight in 2016-17.

Hull nonetheless have an outdoor probability of automated promotion with 5 factors separating them from second-positioned Middlesbrough, though they could be extra involved with the three-level hole between themselves and Wrexham in seventh spot.

The Tigers skilled a combined run of kind, having gained two and misplaced three of their earlier 5 Championship outings.

After dropping to Ipswich Town and Millwall, Hull returned to profitable methods away to Wrexham, earlier than they had been shortly stopped of their tracks by a 3-0 defeat to West Brom.

Sergej Jakirovic‘s facet then got here from behind to say a 3-1 victory over basement facet Sheffield Wednesday, demonstrating why they’re the fourth-highest scorers within the division.

If they’ll pull off one other win on Friday, it will symbolize their first league double over Oxford since 1975-76 after recording a 3-2 success in August’s reverse fixture.

Oxford United Championship kind:

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Hull City Championship kind:

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Team News

© Imago / Pro Sports Images

Oxford are unable to name upon the injured trio of Greg Leigh, Brian De Keersmaecker and Tyler Goodrham.

After dropping to the bench in opposition to Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur loanee Jamie Donley may come again into the beginning lineup, simply days after scoring in Northern Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Wales.

Will Lanskhear, who netted within the reverse fixture in opposition to Hull, is anticipated to steer the road on Friday, with the striker trying so as to add to the eight league objectives he has scored this season.

Hull, in the meantime, might be with out Ryan Giles, Matty Jacob, Akin Famewo, Darko Gyabi and David Akintola.

Regan Slater is more likely to miss the ultimate seven video games of the season after sustaining an ankle damage within the win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Northern Ireland’s Paddy McNair and Nigeria’s Semi Ajayi ought to be match regardless of returning early from worldwide obligation with minor damage points, and Charlie Hughes may also be out there after serving a one-match ban.

Oxford United doable beginning lineup:

Cumming; Long, Helik, Brown, Currie; Konak, Brannagan; Mills, Donley, Peart-Harris; Lankshear

Hull City doable beginning lineup:

Pandur; Hughes, Egan, McNair; Drameh, Hadziahmetovic, Crooks, Millar; Gelhardt, Koumas; McBurnie

We say: Oxford United 1-1 Hull City

Oxford have averted defeat of their final three outings at Kassam Stadium, and we expect they may do sufficient to carry promotion-chasing Hull so as to add a helpful level of their quest to stay a Championship facet.

For information evaluation of the most certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.