Wootton’s Stockport can go top – but Ramsey’s Oxford have not lost at home
A win at the Kassam would put Stockport County top of League One, a point above Huddersfield. Jimmy McNulty’s side are unbeaten in six league games, and Kyle Wootton, the division’s top scorer with nine goals, has scored in each of the last four. Aaron Ramsey’s Oxford are seventh with two games in hand and are unbeaten in seven league games, including all five at home. This is a rearranged fixture, and both teams are playing for the fourth time in less than two weeks.
Kyle Wootton has nine League One goals this season, more than any other player in the division.
Predicted lineups: Oxford vs Stockport
Oxford report no new injuries. Jamie McDonnell (hamstring), Ruben Roosken and Jeon Jin-woo are still out, while Peter Kioso and Gatlin O’Donkor are available again after suspension. Sports Mole expects Ramsey to recall Mark Harris up front. Stockport have lost defender Kyron Gordon to a hamstring injury for about a month, Brad Hills is a long-term absentee and Ryan Rydel was not in the last squad. Adama Sidibeh, who came off the bench to equalise at Notts County, is pushing for a start.
Oxford Team News & Preview
Oxford have been hard to beat in Ramsey’s first season as a permanent manager. Their only league defeat came at Huddersfield on 1 September, and at the Kassam they have two wins and three draws. Saturday’s 0-0 with Bradford showed both sides of the team: Oxford were better before the break and O’Donkor missed three good chances, but Bradford controlled much of the second half.
The club is under a transfer embargo, so the squad is stretched by a run of four games in 13 days. Siriki Dembélé has the best FotMob rating in the squad, with three assists, and Harris is the top scorer with four goals. Oxford’s expected goals against of 1.55 per game is higher than their goals conceded, so the defence has been helped by finishing and goalkeeping.
What works for or against Oxford
- Unbeaten in seven league games and at home all season.
- Two games in hand on Stockport.
- 1.55 expected goals conceded per game.
- A transfer embargo has left the squad thin for four games in 13 days.
Stockport Team News & Preview
Stockport’s numbers are the best in this fixture by some distance: 2.14 expected goals per game, 1.12 against and 62% possession. Saturday’s 1-1 at Notts County ended a five-game winning run, but they are still unbeaten in six league games and have kept clean sheets in three of their six away games. Oliver Norwood, the best-rated player in the squad, and Lewis Bate, with four assists, run the midfield.
Wootton is the obvious threat. He has scored in four straight league games, and with Jack Diamond and Harry Wood around him Stockport have plenty of goals in the side. This is also their fourth game in 11 days, and Sports Mole raised the question of rotation for McNulty.
What works for or against Stockport
- Unbeaten in six league games.
- Wootton has scored in four league games in a row.
- Fourth game in 11 days.
- Defender Kyron Gordon is out for about a month.
Oxford vs Stockport Odds
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Oxford Utd vs. Stockport Stats Comparison
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Oxford Utd vs. Stockport Form Guide
Oxford Utd Form, Stats & Data
Oxford’s results are better than their underlying numbers. They score 1.80 goals per game from 1.40 expected goals and concede one per game against 1.55 expected. That is a good sign of efficiency, but it also suggests the unbeaten run has relied on taking chances well at both ends.
Stockport Form, Stats & Data
Stockport’s numbers match their position. They create more than two expected goals per game, allow just over one and keep the ball for most of the match. Their actual goals and expected goals are almost identical, so nothing here looks like luck.
Oxford vs Stockport: Prediction & Betting Tip
Stockport create more, concede less and have the division’s top scorer in form. Oxford’s unbeaten run is real, but their results are ahead of their expected goals at both ends, while Stockport’s numbers are consistent. I expect Stockport to be the better side over 90 minutes.
Oxford’s home record is the strongest argument against, and several previews expect a 1-1. Both teams are tired, and McNulty may rotate. That is why I prefer to have the draw covered rather than back a Stockport win outright. I am backing Stockport County Draw No Bet at 1.48 with Winz and expect a 1-2 away win.