Aiming to stretch their unbeaten run in the second tier to four matches, newly-promoted Oxford United will welcome Premier League-chasing West Bromwich Albion to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Championship.
The U's recorded a share of the spoils at the home of Portsmouth prior to the international pause, whilst the Baggies were frustratingly held by Millwall at The Hawthorns.
Match preview
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Despite finishing 15 points off the automatic promotion spots in League One during the 2023-24 campaign, Oxford United are back in the Championship for the first time since 1999 after playoff success in May, with Saturday's hosts making a positive start on their return to the second tier.
Following three straight away defeats to Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City across August and September, the U's managed back-to-back results on the road prior to October's international break, earning points at the home of Luton Town and League One champions Portsmouth.
In a fixture that was overshadowed by an incident of racist abuse, Oxford's Louie Sibley bagged his maiden goal for the club since sealing a summer switch from Derby County, with the 23-year-old equalising for the visitors at Fratton Park following Mark O'Mahony's opener.
After a three-match run of draws heading into the two-week break, Des Buckingham's troops are currently sitting in 10th position in the Championship standings, four points behind Watford in the playoffs and five points ahead of Queens Park Rangers in the highest of the relegation spots.
Netting just 11 goals across three second-tier campaigns for Cardiff City between 2020 and 2023, Mark Harris is enjoying his time in the division after a one-year spell in League One, with the Wales international scoring four goals during 10 Championship appearances so far this season.
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Following a sensational six-game unbeaten streak at the start of the 2024-25 Championship term, West Bromwich Albion have been brought back down to Earth after a three-match winless run, with Saturday's visitors to Oxford collecting just the single point from consecutive home contests prior to the international break.
A second-half strike from England Under-21s star Hayden Hackney snatched maximum points for Middlesbrough at The Hawthorns on October 1, and four days later the Baggies were unable to conquer a struggling Millwall side, who managed to escape the Black Country with a point following a goalless draw.
Owing to their collapse in results before the two-week break, West Brom have dropped from first to fourth in the Championship standings ahead of this weekend's short trip to Oxfordshire, although Carlos Corberan's side are only two points behind current pacesetters Sunderland and Sheffield United.
With a host of first-team stars leaving the club over the summer, youngster Tom Fellows has stepped up to the plate for the Baggies by providing five assists, with the 21-year-old arguably the greatest product of the club's academy since Saido Berahino over a decade ago.
On the contrary to last season, West Brom have been ruthless on the road so far in 2024-25, collecting nine points from four contests away from The Hawthorns, meaning that Corberan's troops boast the strongest away record in the Championship heading into this weekend's round of fixtures.
Team News
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Oxford are without the services of playmaker Cameron Brannagan for at least a couple of weeks as the midfielder recovers from injections on a knee injury.
The U's are unable to call upon the talents of left-back Joseph Bennett, who is out of action until late January due to a broken ankle sustained in August.
Spending eight years at The Hawthorns between 2016 and 2024, Matt Phillips will miss out on the opportunity to face his former employers because of a muscle strain.
West Brom's Paddy McNair, Mason Holgate and Semi Ajayi will return from international duty on Thursday, with the latter set to partner Kyle Bartley at centre-back.
There could be some attacking alterations for the Baggies after they fired a blank against Millwall, with Jed Wallace, John Swift and Karlan Grant pushing for starts.
Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Cumming; Kioso, Long, Leigh, Brown; Vaulks, Dembele, Rodrigues, El Mizouni, Goodrham; Harris
West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Heggem; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows, Swift, Johnston; Maja
We say: Oxford United 2-2 West Bromwich Albion
Unbeaten at home in the Championship so far, Oxford will not be afraid of promotion contenders West Brom, who are heading into this contest following a string of poor results.
We are expecting plenty of goals at the Kassam Stadium, with the U's and the Baggies eventually settling for a share of the second-tier spoils.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
