Two teams battling to secure playoff positions in the League One table will lock horns for a huge game on Tuesday evening, with Oxford United welcoming Lincoln City to the Kassam Stadium.
Oxford are currently sixth in the division, three points ahead of seventh-placed Blackpool, who have played a game more, while Lincoln occupy eighth spot, five points behind their opponents in this fixture.
Match preview
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Oxford United have never played in the Championship, spending each of the last eight campaigns in the third tier of English football, but they are currently in a strong position to challenge for promotion.
Indeed, Des Buckingham's side sit sixth in the table, three points ahead of seventh-placed Blackpool, who have played a game more, while they are five clear of Lincoln in eighth.
An excellent season has seen Oxford record 21 wins from their 43 matches, with 73 points enough for sixth at this stage, and they are only two points behind fifth-placed Barnsley, who also have three games left.
The U's will enter this match off the back of three straight victories in League One, including a thumping 5-0 success over Peterborough United on Saturday afternoon.
Buckingham's team are flying at the moment, winning four of their last five at this level of football, scoring 13 times in their last three fixtures, and they now have back-to-back home fixtures against Lincoln and Stevenage before ending their regular campaign with a trip to Exeter City on April 27.
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Lincoln are also looking to earn promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history, but the Imps have work to do if they are to make the playoffs late in the season.
Michael Skubala's side sit eighth in League One, boasting 68 points courtesy of a record of 18 wins, 14 draws and 11 defeats from their 43 matches during the 2023-24 campaign.
Lincoln are five points behind sixth-placed Oxford with three games left, so a win here is absolutely vital, but they will enter the clash off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic.
The Imps had been in excellent form, posting five straight wins between March 9 and April 1, before drawing 1-1 at Reading on April 6, but their loss at home to Wigan was certainly a damaging one.
Lincoln's away form this season has been relatively solid, claiming 31 points from 21 matches, and they will be taking on an Oxford side that has 39 points to show from their 21 home fixtures.
Team News
Oxford were irresistible against Peterborough on Saturday, with Ruben Rodrigues netting a brace in what was a five-star performance from the home side at the Kassam Stadium.
Head coach Buckingham will need to assess the fitness of his players, but with no fresh injuries reported at this stage, it might well be a case of same again in terms of the team selection.
Two-goal Rodrigues will continue in a deeper position, with Mark Harris, who has scored 14 times in League One during an impressive campaign, again leading the line for the U's.
As for Lincoln, head coach Skubala is unlikely to shuffle his pack despite the disappointment of the loss at Wigan, which was a first defeat in 17 matches for the team.
The Imps had three goals disallowed on Saturday and might have picked up a positive result on another day.
A 3-5-2 formation once again saw Joe Taylor feature in the final third of the field, and the 21-year-old will be bidding to add to his nine League One goals on Tuesday, while Ben House should also retain his spot in the front two.
Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Cumming; Stevens, Long, Brown, Leigh; Dale, Rodrigues, McEachran, Goodrham, Murphy; Harris
Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Mitchell, O'Connor, Roughan; Sorensen, Moylan, Erhahon, Mandroiu, Hackett; House, Taylor
We say: Oxford United 2-0 Lincoln City
Oxford will be looking to do the league double over Lincoln, having run out 2-0 winners in the reverse match earlier this season, and we are backing the home side to secure all three points on Tuesday evening courtesy of the same scoreline.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
