Preview:Sheffield Wednesday vs. Oxford United - prediction, team news, lineups

Sheffield Wednesday will face Oxford United at Hillsborough on Saturday, with only goal difference separating the sides in the League One table.

Both sides have accumulated 15 points this season, with Sheffield Wednesday occupying ninth position, while their opponents sit a place higher in eighth.

Match preview

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Sheffield Wednesday have had an encouraging start to the campaign as they have only lost twice in the league this term, which has led to them sitting only two points adrift of the playoff places.

Although, they do enter Saturday's fixture on the back of a run of results that has seen them win one league game in five matches, however that victory did come in their last fixture, which will give Darren Moore and his side some confidence heading into the Oxford clash.

On Tuesday, they travelled to the DW Stadium to face Wigan Athletic, where an own goal from Max Power and a goal from Callum Paterson ensured Charlie Wyke's late penalty was meaningless as The Owls clinched the three points with a 2-1 victory.

The story of Sheffield Wednesday's season has been defensive solidity since Moore's team have only conceded seven goals in League One this term, although that has affected their attacking play as The Owls have only managed to find the net on nine occasions.

The last time Sheffield Wednesday faced Oxford was in August 2015 when they won 1-0 in the League Cup and with The Owls' defence performing well this term, a similar result at the weekend would not be surprising.

Oxford's campaign has followed a similar pattern to Sheffield Wednesday's season, as they only suffered one defeat in their first five league games, but they have only won once in their last five league matches and that win came in their most recent outing.

On Tuesday, Oxford ended a run of four League One games without a victory when they thrashed Accrington Stanley 5-1 courtesy of a brace from Nathan Holland, a goal apiece for Matty Taylor and Mark Sykes and an own goal from Michael Nottingham.

Although The U's have been imperious at home, their record on the road this season needs improvement and they are still in search of their first away victory of the campaign.

Karl Robinson's side have only picked up one point on their travels this term, which came on the opening day against Cambridge United and Oxford enter Saturday's fixture having lost their last three away games.

If The U's can get their first away win of the campaign against Sheffield Wednesday, then they open up the possibility of ending the weekend in a playoff place.

Team News

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Paterson came back into the Sheffield Wednesday starting lineup on Tuesday and, after scoring against Wigan, the 26-year-old will keep his place this weekend.

Barry Bannan was not fit enough to start in midweek and was an unused substitute, but the experienced midfielder may come back into the starting lineup on Saturday.

The Owls will be without Massimo Luongo and Josh Windass, who are both out with hamstring problems.

Oxford United are still without Jamie Hanson, who is recovering from a shoulder injury.

After an impressive display against Accrington Stanley, Robinson is likely to go with an unchanged lineup against Sheffield Wednesday.

Sheffield Wednesday possible starting lineup:

Peacock-Farrell; Palmer, Iorfa, Dunkley, Johnson; Adeniran, Wing, Bannan, Brown; Gregory, Paterson

Oxford United possible starting lineup:

Stevens; Forde, McNally, Moore, Seddon; Henry, Kane, Brannagan; Sykes, Holland, Taylor

We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Oxford United

This one looks set to be an intriguing contest with both sides entering the fixture off the back of encouraging victories, however there seems to be little to separate the two teams and as a result we think this encounter will end all square.