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

Hull City will return from the international window with a trip to the Kassam Stadium for a Championship meeting with Oxford United on Good Friday.

The Tigers currently occupy fifth spot in the league table, while the U's are languishing in 23rd position.

Match preview

Oxford boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop with a run of three consecutive victories against West Bromwich Albion, Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers.

However, the U's survival bid lost some momentum with a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Charlton Athletic and a 2-0 defeat away to Southampton before the international break.

Matt Bloomfield's side will return to action with a point separating them from 21st-placed Portsmouth, their Easter Monday opponents.

They will want to go into that game on the back of a positive result against Hull, although four defeats in the last six meetings suggest that will be easier said than done.

That said, the U's will have good memories of last season's home clash with the Tigers, which saw Hidde ter Avest score the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory at the Kassam Stadium.

Oxford will be desperate to strike first in Friday's fixture, considering they have lost 15 of the 18 league games in which they conceded the opening goal this season (D3).

In contrast to their opponents, Hull are operating in the playoffs and dreaming of returning to the Premier League for the first time since being relegated from the top flight in 2016-17.

Hull still have an outside chance of automatic promotion with five points separating them from second-placed Middlesbrough, although they may be more concerned with the three-point gap between themselves and Wrexham in seventh spot.

The Tigers experienced a mixed run of form, having won two and lost three of their previous five Championship outings.

After losing to Ipswich Town and Millwall, Hull returned to winning ways away to Wrexham, before they were quickly stopped in their tracks by a 3-0 defeat to West Brom.

Sergej Jakirovic's side then came from behind to claim a 3-1 victory over basement side Sheffield Wednesday, demonstrating why they are the fourth-highest scorers in the division.

If they can pull off another win on Friday, it would represent their first league double over Oxford since 1975-76 after recording a 3-2 success in August's reverse fixture.

Oxford United Championship form:

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Hull City Championship form:

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Team News

Oxford are unable to call upon the injured trio of Greg Leigh, Brian De Keersmaecker and Tyler Goodrham.

After dropping to the bench against Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur loanee Jamie Donley could come back into the starting lineup, just days after scoring in Northern Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Wales.

Will Lanskhear, who netted in the reverse fixture against Hull, is expected to lead the line on Friday, with the striker looking to add to the eight league goals he has scored this season.

Hull, meanwhile, will be without Ryan Giles, Matty Jacob, Akin Famewo, Darko Gyabi and David Akintola.

Regan Slater is likely to miss the final seven games of the season after sustaining an ankle injury in the win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Northern Ireland’s Paddy McNair and Nigeria’s Semi Ajayi should be fit despite returning early from international duty with minor injury issues, and Charlie Hughes will also be available after serving a one-match ban.

Oxford United possible starting lineup:

Cumming; Long, Helik, Brown, Currie; Konak, Brannagan; Mills; Donley, Peart-Harris; Lankshear

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Pandur; Hughes, Egan, McNair; Drameh, Hadziahmetovic, Crooks, Millar; Gelhardt, Koumas; McBurnie

We say: Oxford United 1-1 Hull City

Oxford have avoided defeat in their last three outings at Kassam Stadium, and we think they will do enough to hold promotion-chasing Hull to add a useful point in their efforts to remain a Championship side.

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