MK Dons vs Oxford Prediction: Hosts can account for Championship visitors

League Two promotion chasers MK Dons host struggling Championship side Oxford in the FA Cup third round on Friday. The Dons are in the League Two play-off places, lying fifth, and are just two points off an automatic promotion spot despite going three games without a win.

Oxford are two divisions higher but in danger of going down from the Championship. With the club in the relegation zone after a run of one win in ten games, head coach Gary Rowett was sacked just before Christmas. A 2-1 home win over Southampton followed under interim boss Craig Short, but then came two more defeats against Swansea and Ipswich. Read on for my MK Dons vs Oxford predictions with the latest match odds and team news.

Team News

MK Dons boss Paul Warne is busy looking for January signings to bolster his squad, which has been hit by long-term injuries to Joe Tomlinson, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Will Collar, while Alex Gilbey and Marvin Ekpiteta are unlikely to be back until later this month.

That may restrict Warne’s rotation options, although midfielders Aaron Collins and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans could be recalled to the starting line-up.

Football Odds

Oxford are short up front, with striker Nik Prelec left out of the squad against Ipswich and attacking midfielder Tyler Goodrham going off after 23 minutes of that game.

On the plus side, club captain Cameron Brannagan is close to a return after seven weeks on the sidelines and could be involved in Friday’s game.

MK Dons vs Oxford Odds

MK Dons are 7/4 to win, with the draw priced at 11/5 and Oxford available at 11/8.

The Dons are the highest scorers in League Two, averaging almost two goals per game, and over 2.5 goals is on offer at 4/5.

MK Dons to win @ 9/5

The gap of two divisions between the sides may be closed to a significant extent by their respective home and away records.

MK Dons have won six and drawn three of their last nine home games in League Two and the FA Cup, scoring at least two goals in six of those matches.

Oxford, albeit against much better opposition, have lost eight out of 13 on the road in the Championship.

In contrast to the hosts, they are on a run of six defeats in their last nine away games.

With a permanent boss yet to be appointed, it is difficult to see Oxford shaking off their malaise even though they are taking on lower-level opponents.

They have scored nil or one goal in 10 of their last 12 games and could be outbattled and outscored by the more in-form hosts.

It is notable that MK Dons scored three goals in each of their FA Cup wins in the first two rounds, albeit both against League Two opposition, and their attack could be the deciding factor again.

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