Keeping Up With...The U's

Argyle's 1-0 defeat at Barnet coupled with Oxford's 4-0 thrashing of second-bottom York 4-0 on Tuesday night sent United into second spot, above Argyle on goal difference. 

Oxford forward Jordan Bowery, a January signing from Championship side Rotherham, opened the scoring just after the quarter hour mark. The U's piled on the misery as defender Chey Dunkley and forwards Danny Hylton and Kemar Roofe fired their side a further three goals ahead in the final 18 minutes of the match.

Michael Appleton's side have been in good form during 2016, having only lost three of their last ten league fixtures, all of which were sides in the top six - Northampton (1-0), Bristol Rovers (2-1) and Accrington (also 2-1). They've registered ten goals in their past three games: four against York, 2-1 at Wimbledon and another four in their 4-1 demolition of our Devon rivals Exeter City.

Former Pilgrims loanee Alex MacDonald looks set to line up against his former side once more. The 25-year-old joined the Greens on loan in the 2011-12 season from Burnley and over two loan spells during the campaign made 34 appearances, scoring five times as his side retained their Football League status.

Further positive news around the Kassam this week has seen the club extend the loan of 18-year-old Everton youngster Jonjoe Kenny. The defender has played eight times since joining in January and had his loan extended by a further month. Kenny was previously on loan at League 1 high-flyers Wigan earlier in the season and made seven appearances for the Latics.

Oxford have been prolific in front of goal this season registering 59 goals from their 34 league games to date, a feat only beaten by table-topping Northampton with 60. The 23-year-old Roofe has 12 of those - and has 20 in all competitions. 

Historically, United have fared well against Argyle, having only a solitary defeat in their previous ten encounters dating back to 2011. That came on Boxing Day 2013, when Ben Purrington made his Argyle debut, and Reuben Reid and Caolan Lavery fired Argyle to a 3-2 victory.