Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
With 13 rounds remaining, Oxford United are nine points clear of the relegation zone—a margin that is reasonably solid, though further points are needed. Achieving this against West Bromwich Albion will be challenging, as they themselves are vying for a top-six finish.
West Bromwich Albion
The West Midlands club sit in sixth place, occupying a coveted play-off spot for promotion to the Premier League. However, their position is under threat due to an underwhelming February— just one win, one draw, and two defeats. At least they continue to find the net, albeit mostly scoring just once per game. The drop in attacking output is largely down to the prolonged injury absence of their top scorer, Josh Maja (12 goals).
Oxford United
For Oxford United, such attacking output would be more than welcome—they average just over one goal per game (34). Moreover, their run of good fortune appears to have ended in their last five matches (three draws and two defeats). In each of these fixtures, they failed to score more than two goals in total, and on two occasions they were kept to nil—against Stoke City and Derby County. Oxford United’s problem lies in the absence of a clearly defined goalscorer. Their best forwards, Greg Leigh and Max Harris, have each managed five goals, with the former operating in the role of left-back.
West Bromwich Albion vs Oxford United Prediction
Given these attacking difficulties, it is unlikely that either side will produce a particularly high-scoring display. We expect a tight contest in which a single goal may ultimately decide the outcome.
