Bristol City vs Oxford Prediction: The U’s can get first away points on the board

Bristol City welcome Oxford United to Ashton Gate in the EFL Championship on Saturday (15:00), looking to end their two-game losing streak. The Robins were beaten 3-0 at Blackburn Rovers last time out and have only won one match all season.

Newly-promoted Oxford have won three of their opening five fixtures, including their last two, so they will be feeling confident ahead of their trip to the south west. Below you will find my Bristol City vs Oxford prediction, alongside match odds and team news.

Bristol City vs Oxford Odds

Bristol City are valued at 4/5 to get the win, giving them an implied probability of 55.6%. Oxford United are 18/5 to take the three points, which gives them a theoretical chance of 21.7%. The draw is available at 5/2 (28.6%).

Both teams to score can be backed at 4/5 and over 2.5 goals is marketed at 10/11. Oxford striker Mark Harris has four goals in five league matches so far, and he is 11/4 to score anytime here, or 8/1 to open the scoring.

Fally Mayulu has two league goals for the Robins and he is 2/1 to score at any stage during the match.

Football Odds

Team News 

After being well beaten at Ewood Park, Bristol City boss Liam Manning is likely to make changes to his team ahead of this clash, with striker Sinclair Armstrong likely to return to the starting XI in place of Mayulu.

Haydon Roberts could be considered at left-back, while it appears Yu Hirakawa will have to bide his time for a starting place in the attacking third. The Robins are missing George Earthy, Rob Dickie, Rob Atkinson and Ross McCrorie due to injury.

Oxford United midfielder Cameron Brannagan was lost to injury in their victory over Stoke City last weekend, so he should be replaced by Ruben Rodrigues for the trip to Ashton Gate. Brannagan joins Joe Bennett in the treatment room, so Greg Leigh will continue at left-back in the latter's place.

Harris will keep his place in attack after his stunning start to the season, and the Championship Player of the Month for August will be eager to net his fifth goal of the campaign after experiencing his first blank against the Potters last weekend.

Record signing Siriki Dembele dazzled on the left flank in that match, so he is likely to keep his place in the team for this fixture.

Draw or Oxford @ 19/20

In the five matches the U's have played in the second tier so far, two have been away from home and they have lost in both of them to Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers.

This has been more than made up for when they've played at the Kassam Stadium with nine points from a possible nine picked up there, but boss Des Buckingham will know that points at home won't be enough for their long-term survival hopes.

Oxford will be sensing an opportunity in Bristol on Saturday as the Robins have largely been disappointing so far. They have won just one game while drawing two and losing two. You already sense a degree of frustration among the supporters which could play into the visitors' hands this weekend.

The fans will see Oxford as a must-win given the U's have struggled on the road so far, but they have the momentum heading into this clash. Two wins on the spin, while the Robins were well-beaten by Blackburn in their last league appearance.

Before the start of the season, I didn't think that I would be favouring Oxford United in an away match so early in the campaign but here we are. They have been excellent so far, and they will want to milk this strong start for all its worth.

I do rate the squad that Bristol City have, but whether they can get back to winning ways against a team with confidence is another matter entirely. Oxford are yet to get off the mark on the road, which also plants a seed of doubt, but I am more confident in them than the hosts right now. Double chance would be my play here.

Mark Harris anytime goalscorer @ 11/4

This man has been on fire in the second tier so far and I think he will be at the centre of all the action again at Ashton Gate on Saturday. The forward has four league goals to his name and two of them have come on the road, so while his goals haven't been of value away from home, he is still doing his bit for the team.

Harris will be hoping this is the week in which he can score in an away game in which his side come away with some points. The Robins are vulnerable right now and Harris and his team-mates can capitalise on that.

The striker's run of scoring in every game may have ended last time out but I think he can bounce back at the first attempt here and net his fifth of the season.

Offers

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