Oxford United vs Coventry City preview

Oxford United will look to get their season up and running tomorrow with the visit of Coventry City.

United have lost their first three Championship games and go into this match on the back of a 6-0 humping by Brighton in the League Cup. Coventry also failed to progress in the cup, losing by a civilised 2-1 at Millwall. They had, however, won their previous three games, scoring 13 goals in the process, including a rather comprehensive 7-1 drubbing of QPR that followed a 5-3 win at Derby County in their last away game. Confident we are not.

When you also consider that Oxford’s record against the Sky Blues isn’t brilliant (five wins to Coventry’s 11 across all competitions) you can understand why U’s fans might be approaching this fixture with some trepidation. Consider also that United have lost their last four games against tomorrow’s opponents – and haven’t beaten them at home since a 2-0 League Cup win in August 2018 – and we are seriously considering spending the afternoon in the pub instead.

We won’t, of course, because this is football and sometimes the unexpected can happen. The same reason we didn’t leave the Brighton game before the final whistle, because there’s always the chance you might miss the Best-Ever Goal or some hilarious incident or maybe just because we’re gluttons for punishment (I know people who left the Portsmouth home game in 1992 when we were 5-2 down).

For those that can take it, HERE’s Oxford’s record against Coventry.

Marcus Browne celebrates scoring against Coventry in the 2018 League Cup (picture Steve Daniels)

Aside from elimination from the cup, Wednesday’s defeat also had some potentially more serious consequences for United, with both full backs – Brodie Spender and Jack Currie – going off injured. Hopefully they weren’t too serious but it didn’t look great on the night – especially Currie’s as the defender limped heavily from the field as the game entered stoppage time.

There are decent reinforcements in Hidde ter Avest and Greg Leigh, but that could leave the bench looking remarkably light of defensive talent. With Ciaron Brown likely unavailable for a few weeks yet, Steph Negru also injured, and Ben Davies seemingly not ready to play until after the international break, there aren’t too many options for Gary Rowett at the back. We wonder if Aaron Lacey, who has just signed his first pro contract, might be in contention for a place on the bench? Hopefully, the returns of Jamie Cumming and Michał Helik will help shore up the back line.

There were some small positives to come out of Wednesday’s debacle, including first competitive games for new signings Brian De Keersmaecker, Luke Harris and Nik Prelec, all of whom seemed to improve the team when they came on. As, indeed, did Louie Sibley who may be working his way back in from the cold given his substitute displays so far this season.

Coventry have had an injury boost themselves with the news that Ben Sheaf and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto are both fit to return to the squad for tomorrow’s game. However, the game comes too soon for Josh Eccles to be involved and Joel Latibeaudiere is still out with a hamstring issue.

It would be nice to get some (or even one) points on the board before the end of August but given Coventry’s record so far this season, this might be unlikely. The one thing I will predict is that there will be goals in this game. Hopefully at least one for the Yellas.

On This Day

United don’t actually have a too horrendous record on 30th August. The last time they played on this date was a 5-0 win over Leyton Orient (even if it was in the Football League Trophy) in 2022 and six years earlier they beat Exeter City 4-2 in the same competition.

In fact, you have to go back to 1997 for the last time the U’s lost on this date (a 2-1 reverse at Portsmouth); this being the only defeat in Oxford’s last ten 30th August matches. United have only ever lost once at home on 30th August, a 5-3 reverse at the hands of Fulham in the League Cup. So, if history means anything, and you’re happy to cherry pick which bits of history you choose, then it’s quite an auspicious date.

It doesn’t convince us either.

See United’s full record on 30th August HERE.