Preview: Oxford United vs. Southampton – predictions, team news and lineups

Oxford United will host Southampton at The Kassam Stadium on Wednesday as both teams prepare for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

The hosts have already played five pre-season matches, winning two and losing three, while the visitors have won all three friendly games.

Match preview

After losing to Wycombe Wanderers in the 2019-20 League One playoff final, Oxford United fought for promotion to the Championship in each of the next two seasons, losing to Blackpool in the 2020-21 semi-finals before missing out on the playoffs altogether by seven points in 2021-22.

Oxford Utd entered the 2022-23 season hoping to once again qualify for the playoffs and a chance at promotion to England’s second division, but they instead had a disastrous season, escaping relegation by just two points.

Liam Manning, who led the side to safety in the final stages of that season, had a fantastic start in 2023-24, winning 10 of the first 15 games before controversially leaving to manage Bristol City.

Des Buckingham took over as manager, and despite a difficult start at Oxford United, where he failed to win his first four games and had only six victories in his first 22 League One games, he guided the team to fifth place.

The U’s went on to beat Peterborough United 2-1 over two legs in the semi-finals before defeating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in the final to secure their place in the Championship next season, their first appearance in the second division since 1999.

Buckingham’s side has already played five friendlies ahead of their Championship campaign, losing to Academico Viseu FC, Exeter City, and Mansfield Town while winning against Oxford City and Solihull Moors.

Southampton’s 11-season Premier League reign came to an end in 2022-23, with the club finishing last in the league with only 25 points from 38 games.

Former Swansea City manager Russell Martin took charge of Southampton ahead of the Championship season, and despite a rocky start, including four consecutive losses in September and three consecutive defeats in April, a phenomenal 25-game unbeaten streak helped the Saints finish fourth with 87 points.

Martin’s side defeated West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the playoffs before narrowly defeating Leeds United in the final, thanks to Adam Armstrong’s 24th-minute goal, to secure their return to the top division.

The Saints have won all three of their pre-season games, defeating Eastleigh 7-1, Bordeaux 3-2, and Montpellier 3-1, and Martin will be looking to build on that momentum with a win in this one.

Oxford United’s friendly form:

• L
• W
• W
• L
• L

Southampton’s friendly form:

Team News

Despite their recent defeat at Mansfield, Oxford United’s defensive lineup of Peter Kioso, Ciaron Brown, Elliott Moore, and Joe Bennett could start again here, as that combination may be named to begin the Championship season.

Mark Harris scored 15 goals in 43 league appearances last season and is expected to start here, with midfielder Ruben Rodrigues playing just behind the forward.

Adam Lallana, who returned to the Saints after leaving in 2014, could make his first start for the club in this match.

Yukinari Sugawara impressed in his first start and could line up in defence alongside Ronnie Edwards, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Charlie Taylor, with Alex McCarthy in goal.

Oxford United’s possible starting lineup: Ingram; Kioso, Brown, Moore, Bennett; Vaulks, Rodrigues, El Mizouni, O’Donkor, Harris, Goodrham.

Southampton’s possible starting lineup: McCarthy; Sugawara, Edwards, Harwood-Bellis, Taylor; Downes, Smallbone; Sulemana, Lallana, Aribo; Mara.

Our prediction: Oxford United 1-2 Southampton.

Oxford United have been unimpressive in their five friendlies thus far, whereas the Saints have won convincingly in each of their pre-season games, implying that the visitors will win this one.

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