Patto scores to give Oxford the win over Stoke

Before I begin this preview, I would like to apologise for any offence I caused with my ill-chosen words in the Millwall report. It wasn’t my intention to offend anyone and I can see that I shouldn’t have said what I did. I have been suitably chastised and will not make the same mistake again. For the avoidance of doubt, I utterly respect the people who laid down their lives to protect the country from Fascism and Nazism in the Second World War. Hopefully that sacrifice will never be needed again.

Onto the Stoke City game, and Oxford United have their second home game in the space of four days, yet again playing the side in third place. The U’s did well to get a point from the Lions and despite the second equaliser coming in the 96th minute, it was well deserved.

The Potters will provide another difficult challenge (as seems to be the case with all this season’s Championship sides) and United will once more have to be ‘bang at it’ to get anything from this game.

However, there is good news: Oxford United have NEVER lost to Stoke City at home. In 10 meetings, the U’s have won six and four have been drawn. In addition, United have scored 20 goals (an average of two a game) to Stoke’s seven (less than one a game).

Last season, people may remember Idris El Mizouni scored his only goal for the club as the U’s potted the reds 1-0. The previous meeting was 23-and-a-half years earlier at the Manor, when Darren Patterson scored his only goal for the club in a 1-1 draw.

The best period of results came between 1989 and 1996, when the Yellows won all four home games against Stoke (and an away one for good measure), with the pick of the bunch being the 4-1 win at this level in October 1996. Two years later, Oxford went one better to smash the pottery 5-1.

All of which bodes well for tomorrow evening.

See United’s full record against Stoke HERE.

On this day

United have also won more games than they’ve lost on 4th November, with the most recent game on this date being two years ago, with a first round FA Cup win over Maidenhead United. You have to go back to 2000 for the last time Oxford lost a home game on this date, a 1-0 defeat by Bristol Rovers.

The U’s have played Stoke City before on 4th November: a goalless draw in 1997 at the old Victoria Ground.

Check out all Oxford’s 4th November results HERE.

The game

While Oxford will be feeling pleased with themselves for rescuing a late point against Millwall on Saturday, they will be concerned that it came at a cost, with left-back Jack Currie limping from the field just after the hour mark. Should Currie be unable to play on Tuesday, United have a very capable replacement in Greg Leigh.

The other question is whether Gary Rowett will stick with the same line-up (other than Currie if he’s not fit) from Saturday. There are arguments both for and against: on the one hand, it’s good for continuity to keep the same side on the pitch, and Oxford could do with some stability going into what looks a tricky month. On the other hand, Rowett does have plenty of options, certainly up front, and it does no harm to freshen things up and also keep the opposition guessing.

I think it’s unlikely that there will be wholesale changes but he may opt for starting Przsemysłav Płacheta after his fine equaliser at the death, while I can also see Siriki Dembélé starting in place of Filip Krastev. The big unknown is whether Will Lankshear will keep his place or will Nik Prelec return to the side, or will Rowett change shape entirely and play both? Can’t see it, but it’s good to have all these options for a change.

As for the visitors, as mentioned they’re in third place having beaten Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park on 25th October and then thrashing Bristol City 5-1 at home on Saturday, with Divin Mubama scoring a hat-trick. I guess that Mark Robins needs to make the same decision as Rowett: to rotate or not rotate, especially given that they have a crunch promotion match against Coventry City next weekend.

As for predictions, I got the draw right for Saturday’s game (although I wouldn’t have guessed at yet another Desmond). I’d like to think the boys can go one better on Tuesday, but to be honest I suspect it will be another draw. And you know what? I’d be fine with that.