League One takes Friday night centre stage
Karl Robinson’s playoff chasing Oxford United play host to Lincoln City in League One this Friday evening alongside the Spanish Segunda Liga and Africa Cup of Nations qualifying as the biggest football action of the day. This prime time spot is a great chance for two excellent English managers to showcase their work, as Michael Appleton visits his former employers looking to close the gap on the automatic promotion places. Many saw a strong season coming from the Imps given Appleton’s pedigree but the extent of the strength of this campaign has still come as a surprise, likely candidates for a top half finish have put in some astoundingly good performances helped by shrewd recruitment to remain top two hopefuls for the run in.
Table situation
It is a hugely confusing and tight League One table, going into the closing exchanges of the season, seeking some context despite the discrepancy between clubs when it comes to games played, let’s take a look at the points per game figures. Lincoln remain in fourth place with Oxford ninth compared to 11th currently, Yellows take the trip to Sixfields to take on local rivals Northampton Town on Tuesday. It will not be easy despite the Cobblers league position, in the meantime Appleton’s men can focus completely on Friday’s game. Certainly an advantage for the visitors however that is evened up somewhat by the international break as key man Brennan Johnson is away with Wales. The hosts have had no international call ups and therefore will have a full complement available for this meeting.
Despite the loss of 20 combined goals and assists from Johnson the visitors have the metal to push Oxford, after all they took a point off of the league’s most in form side in Sunderland at the weekend. Precocious West Bromwich Albion loanee Callum Morton grabbed the equaliser, his second for the club, in what has been a tough injury stricken season. Morton’s heroics were a huge part of Northampton Town clinching promotion at the back end of last term and he could have a similar impact for Lincoln if he gets the right service.
Goals?
It is very evenly matched and the draw at 3.30 looks very appealing, so I will not be taking up a goals angle for this affair.
- Oxford have scored in three of 10.
- Oxford have conceded in six of 10.
- Oxford have seen both teams score in two of 10.
- Oxford have seen over 2.5 goals in two of 10.
- Lincoln have scored in nine of 10.
- Lincoln have conceded in nine of 10.
- Lincoln have seen both teams score in eight of 10.
- Lincoln have seen over 2.5 goals in seven of 10.
A shoe in for manager of the season, Appleton will be desperate to put in a good display on his return to the Kassam Stadium, keeping two results on side I will narrowly sway the way of the visitors.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
The Imps took the lead to give us hope but Oxford came on strong to win 2-1.