Football VAVEL

Oxford United vs Crewe Alexandra preview: How to watch, kick-off time, team news, predicted lineups and ones to watch

Oxford welcome Crewe to the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night in a Sky Bet League One clash

Oxford United vs Crewe Alexandra preview: How to watch, kick-off time, team news, predicted lineups and ones to watch
OXFORD, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 09: A general view of the exterior of Kassam Stadium during the Sky Bet League One match between Oxford United and Sunderland on February 09, 2019 in Oxford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
tom-rodgers
By Tom Rodgers

Oxford United and Crewe Alexandra will meet on Tuesday night for the first time since 2012.

Both teams were in League Two when they met last time but this week face off in a League One clash with both teams looking to propel themselves up the table. 

This is a rearranged fixture after COVID worries prevented the game from previously happening.

  • Team News

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Josh Ruffels returned at the weekend for Oxford and he could be in line to start against Crewe on Tuesday night. Rob Atkinson may well find a place back in the side also after struggling with injury. 

Joel Cooper is also away with Northern Ireland so he will be missing.

Crewe manager David Artell should have a full squad available to him for the trip amid no fresh injury concerns. 

  • Predicted Lineups

Oxford United XI: Eastwood; Clare, Moore, Long, Ruffels; Forde, Kelly, Brannagan; Henry, Tsylor, Agyei.

Crewe Alexandra XI: Richards; Ng, Daniels, Offord, Pickering; Murphy, Wintle, Ainley; Powell, Mandron, Kirk.

  • Form Guide

Oxford come into this game in the bottom four in the league after a tough start to the season. Results this season have seen them get beaten by Lincoln City, Sunderland and Gillingham with their only win coming against Accrington Stanley.

Crewe on the other hand sit in mid-table and have picked up two wins and two losses so far this term. The two losses came in the first two league games against Charlton Athletic and Hull City but they have recently turned their form around with wins over MK Dons and Wigan Athletic

  • Ones to watch

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First of all there is Matty Taylor for Oxford, the forward has scored two goals in four games so far this season and has been the team's main threat this season. The former Bristol City man's movement has caused defences numerous problems this season and they will be hoping he can do the same on Tuesday. 

For Crewe, Mikael Mandron has been the main man this season. Like Taylor, Mandron has scored two goals in four games and is proving crucial to Crewe's attack. The former Gillingham forward will be hoping to cement his place in the team. 

  • Previous Meeting

The last meeting between the two sides came in January 2012 as Crewe scored a last minute winner to take the spoils. 

The winner coming from late substitute Greg Pearson as he struck the winner with only a minute the go. 

Crewe did the double over Oxford that season and will be hoping they can do the same again this time around. 

  • How to watch

The game will be available to watch on IFollow with kick off at 19:00 BST.

  • What the managers have said

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U's manager Karl Robinson is confident results will come with consistent performance.

“I believe we had 23 shots inside the box and the closest other team to us in the league was 14, and they scored four” Karl told iFollow. “So maybe it just wasn’t our day! But that doesn’t mean it will be the same on Tuesday night. We are getting consistent performance levels now and if we keep playing like that then results will come.

“We have lost three times this season which isn’t ideal, but we are in a new cycle and maybe the expectations were high even though we had a lot of new players and have had a lot of injuries to deal with.

“Alex Gorrin for example has been unavailable all season but Liam Kelly has been one of our best players. Now we have them both competing for one position. Certain games will call for different skill sets.

“We have conceded too many goals, I know that, but look at the injuries we have had - Rob Atkinson has been out, Sean Clare was injured, Ruffs has missed games, Mous is still unavailable. If you are looking for consistency in the back four then you’re not going to find it yet because we haven’t had players fit so far. But I know we will get better and I am seeing signs every week of us improving all the time.”

Crewe manager Artell says there is still plenty to come from his team. 

“The performance was matched by the result but you only get three points for winning a game of football" Artell told the Crewe website.

“We played some really good football on Saturday and controlled the game after the first 10 minutes but we are not waxing lyrical about it. We don’t get carried away here. We move on quickly and that means Oxford.

“It is a tough league and there is a long way to go. Saying that I still think there is a lot to come from this team. We have only played four league games and we are improving with each game and that is always we have asked of the players.”