Preview | Oxford United (A)
The Game
Oxford United v Argyle. Kassam Stadium. Sunday, 29 December. 3pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Oxford United find themselves 20th in the Championship table at this stage, with 21 points from 22 games. They have won five, drawn six and lost 11 of those matches.
United began with a six-match series where they won three home games and lost three away. Next, they drew five in a row, but have only drawn one of the next 11 games. They have only won two in that sequence too, one against Hull City and the other, in their most recent game, against Cardiff City.
After the home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on 14 December, head coach Des Buckingham was somewhat surprisingly sacked, having led the U’s the promotion the season previous.
The Gaffer
Gary Rowett replaced Buckingham just prior to 21 December’s 4-0 loss at Leeds United, but in truth his first game was the Cardiff City win. His previous managerial stint was a spell in interim charge of Birmingham City when Tony Mowbray was forced to take a medical leave of absence.
As a player, Rowett began with Cambridge United, and though a move to Everton never really panned out as he would have hoped, he had a very respectable career with Derby County, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Charlton Athletic and Burton Albion.
With Burton, he took his first steps into management and would go on to take charge of several other previous playing clubs. He moved to Birmingham and then to Derby, before taking over at Stoke City.
Leaving the Potters in January 2019, he re-emerged at Millwall in October that year and spent four years at The Den, before leaving by mutual consent.
The Squad
Defender Ciaron Brown has played every minute of every league game for Oxford so far this season, mostly in central defence, and occasionally at left-back. Brown was still playing in non-league, at Wealdstone, when Cardiff City took a chance on him, but his four years in South Wales saw him play irregularly. He was loaned to Livingston, twice, then to Oxford, at the end of the 2021/22 season. This turned into a permanent move, and he has now played 135 times for the U’s.
Centre-forward Mark Harris (below) was Oxford’s leading goalscorer last season, with 19 goals, and has five thus far this term. Four came in the first four league games of this season, and the most recent in Oxford’s last game. Even though the 25-year-old was born in Swansea, he came through the ranks at Cardiff, playing 95 times and scoring on nine occasions. He also had loans with Newport County, Port Vale and Wrexham during that time. He then moved to Oxford in the summer of 2023.
Will Vaulks is yet another former Cardiff man who is now with Oxford. The 31-year-old midfielder, who has nine caps for Wales, played over 100 times for Falkirk and Rotherham United before racking up a century with the Bluebirds. Next, he went to Sheffield Wednesday, playing a part in the club’s 2022/23 promotion, and was Player of the Year last season, but turned down a new contract to move to the Kassam.
Recent Meetings
The last time the two clubs shared a division was in League One, in 2022/23. Argyle won both encounters, winning 1-0 at Home Park, then 3-1 away from home later in the season. Curiously, Argyle won both games by the same scoreline the previous campaign, too.
Tickets
Tickets for this match have sold out. Collections will be available on the day at Oxford.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will wear their white away kit for this game.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin at 2.30pm, with Charlie Price and Ian Stonebridge bringing you build-up to the game, before handing over to the ground for commentary provided by Harry Salvidge and Ryan Brunt.
Match passes to watch this game will be available to certain international audiences. More information to follow.