Oxford United travel to Barnsley this Saturday looking to extend their five-match unbeaten run in League One. The fixture at Oakwell pits a resilient Oxford side, who sit seventh in League One with 19 points from a record of five wins, four draws and one loss, against a Barnsley team that has lost its last three games.
Their recent form of two wins and three draws, including a goalless draw with Bradford on Tuesday, has kept them within six points of the automatic promotion places, a gap they will aim to close. They face a Barnsley team whose confidence may be dented by consecutive 2-1 defeats to Reading and Luton, followed by a 3-1 loss to Stockport County.
Team news and line-ups
Both clubs have named their starting line-ups for the encounter. Oxford's last XI featured goalkeeper Cumming, with a back line of Spencer, Michał Helik, Brown and Currie. The midfield was anchored by Brannagan and Kai Andrews, who scored the winner against Wigan on October 20, with support from Goodrham, Siriki Dembélé and Missanga, while Gatlin O'Donkor led the attack.
Barnsley's most recent selection included C. Slicker in goal, a defence of A. Kay, S. Gale, J. Shepherd and Z. Larkeche, with a midfield trio of C. McGeehan, L. Connell and Vimal Yoganathan. Patrick Kelly, R. Cleary and T. Adeyemo formed their forward line.
Oxford's top scorer this season is Mark Harris with four goals, a contribution that will be vital as they look to improve on an attacking record of 18 goals scored. The team's solid defence, conceding only 10 times for a goal difference of plus eight, provides a strong foundation. This unbeaten sequence of five games, which reads as two wins and three draws, began with a 2-2 draw at Exeter City on October 6 and includes a 2-1 win over Notts County and a 1-1 draw at Mansfield Town. After this trip to Yorkshire, attention turns to a tough home fixture against second-placed Stockport County on Tuesday, October 27.
