Preview: Birmingham City vs Oxford United - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams with contrasting openings are set to clash at St Andrews when Birmingham City welcome Oxford United for a Championship showdown on Saturday.

The Blues are hoping for their third win on the bounce, while the U's are desperate for their first league points of the season.

Match preview

Chris Davies's Birmingham have made an excellent start to life in the second tier following their League One title win and subsequent promotion in 2024-25, going unbeaten in their first three games across all competitions.

The Blues drew their first match 1-1 with Ipswich Town, who were relegated from the Premier League, before beating league rivals Sheffield United 2-1 in the EFL Cup and taking all three points in a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in the Championship last weekend.

That latest victory has Davies's side sixth, and their tally of four points puts them level with Coventry City and Bristol City in the playoff spots.

Looking to supplement their undefeated streak with another victory, the hosts' own supporters may even be expectant of a triumph given that the third-tier champions have won four of their last five home matches, losing just once at St Andrews since February 8.

Seizing the three points on Saturday could be a major boost to Birmingham's lofty hopes of back-to-back promotions, and would be enough to separate them from the pack in the race.

Meanwhile, Gary Rowett's Oxford Utd survived in the Championship last season after their promotion in 2023-24, and they will be determined to establish themselves as second-tier regulars.

However, the U's have made a poor start to the campaign, following up their 1-0 opening day defeat against Portsmouth by losing 3-2 to Hull City last Sunday.

Failing to earn a single point so far has left Rowett's men 20th in the table, and they will be relieved that they are joined by five other teams - including Wrexham and Sheffield United - on zero.

Desperate to get off the mark this weekend, the visitors will take confidence from their travelling record that features four wins, two draws and just one defeat from their last seven games on the road.

Additionally, fans will be quietly hopeful given that Oxford Utd showed great character to come from behind twice against Hull at the MKM Stadium and only succumbed to a stoppage-time goal from the Tigers.

Birmingham City Championship form:

Birmingham City form (all competitions):

Oxford United Championship form:

Oxford United form (all competitions):

Team News

Birmingham will be without striker Marvin Ducksch this weekend due to a calf injury, so Kyogo Furuhashi will be ready to start up top.

Likewise, right-winger Scott Wright is expected to be out of action until next month at the earliest, though Demarai Gray should start on his flank, with Keshi Anderson operating on the opposite side.

As for Oxford Utd, left-sided defender Ciaron Brown continues to work his way back from a knee injury, and Greg Leigh is likely to start at left-back, with Elliott Moore captaining the team from left centre-back.

Elsewhere, attacking midfielder Luke Harris and right-winger Ole Romeny have been dealing with ankle issues, so the U's should line up with Stanley Mills and Tyler Goodrham out wide, with Mark Harris and Will Lankshear at centre-forward.

Rowett's side also have doubts about the fitness of attacker Przemyslaw Placheta and midfielder Brian De Keersmaecker, though the duo should return in the next few weeks at the latest.

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Allsop; Osayi-Samuel, Neumann, Klarer, Cochrane; Gray, Paik, Iwata, Anderson; Stansfield; Furuhashi

Oxford United possible starting lineup:

Cumming; Spencer, Helik, Moore, Leigh; Mills, Vaulks, Brannagan, Goodrham; Harris, Lankshear