Swansea vs Oxford Prediction: 250/1 shot on the final day

Swansea City made the decision to appoint Alan Sheehan on a permanent basis this week, and it is fully deserved given their recent form. The Swans will look to round their season off in style as they host Oxford United (12:30, Sky Sports+), with both teams looking forward to another season in the Championship next term. 

Read on for my Swansea vs Oxford predictions, featuring betting tips and match odds. 

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Sheehan had been on a winning streak before Swansea lost 1-0 to Millwall last time out but I can’t see him tearing up the squad that has served him so well. Zan Vipotnik may return in place of Liam Cullen at the top end of the pitch while Oli Cooper is a different option to be considered in the centre of the park. 

Myles Peart-Harris and Josh Ginnelly are out injured along with Kristian Pedersen and Harry Darling, so Sheehan’s hand is forced somewhat. Hannes Delcroix and Ben Cabango should continue at the heart of the defence as Swansea look to finish with a bang. 

Oxford beat Sunderland 2-0 last time out and so I can’t see the popular Gary Rowett making many changes here. Mark Harris will play up front, Przemyslaw Placheta and Tyler Goodrham will provide the width and Ruben Rodrigues should continue as the number 10. 

An unchanged XI feels the most likely scenario with Siriki Dembele and Idris El Mizouni still sidelined, while Michal Helik continued his magnificent campaign with a goal from centre-back last time out. Fellow defender Ben Nelson also got on the scoresheet as Rowett’s side secured survival.

Swansea vs Oxford Odds

Swansea are priced at 7/10 to win this game, giving them an implied win probability of 58% for their final game of the campaign. Oxford are 4/1 to end on a win while a draw can be backed at 3/1, showing the bookies have faith in the home side for this one. 

BTTS is 10/11 and over 2.5 goals is the same price having come in during just 36% of Oxford’s games this term. Liam Cullen is 9/2 to open the scoring having hit the net 10 times this term.

Oxford to win to nil @ 15/2

I’ve gone big in search of value in this game. It’s the end of the season, so why not? I think Oxford have been overpriced heading into this game and I understand why. Swansea had won five in a row before Millwall took them down at the Den and Sheehan has undoubtedly made them more competitive than they have been all season. 

Defensively they’ve improved, conceding just two goals in their last six games, but I just think Oxford can nick this one. I don’t like the timing of the Sheehan appointment for this game, and sometimes the appointment of a successful interim can be a mistake. Just look how it went down (quite literally) for Cardiff after they gave Omer Riza the job. 

For what it’s worth, I think Sheehan can be a success at Swans, but I adore what Rowett has done to this Oxford team and he has been one of the best managers of the season. They’ve only conceded two goals in their last four (one against Leeds United) and have won four of their last eight matches to nil. Let’s back it to come in again here. 

Michal Helik to score anytime @ 12/1

Oxford play the percentages and are really threatening from set pieces and I think that will cause Swansea problems looking at their own set-up. I cannot see this one being a free-flowing affair and it could be decided by a big centre-back, so Helik catches my eye as a goalscorer. 

He found the net against Sunderland last time out and now has four goals in just 19 Championship appearances since joining in January. He’s been such a fantastic addition and can end the season on a high. By the way, a scorecast of Michal Helik to score and 1-0 Oxford is a whopping 250/1… 

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