Match Pack: Oxford United

Match Info

Fixture: Oxford United v Watford
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Venue: Kassam Stadium
Time: Saturday March 15, 3pm KO
Strip: Black away kit

Officials

Referee: Robert Madley
Assistant Referees: Hugh Gilroy & George Byrne
Fourth Official: Zac Kennard-Kettle

Team News

Tom Cleverley has revealed there are doubts surrounding Ryan Andrews and Angelo Ogbonna, while also providing an update on the club's sidelined players.

Full Watford team news can be found HERE.

Oxford skipper Elliott Moore was taken off against Hull City midweek with a hamstring injury, while the U's were also without Cameron Brannagan and Tyler Goodrham for the game at the MKM Stadium.

What Are They Saying?

“We will need to have all our battling qualities on show, that’s for sure.” 

Tom Cleverley, Watford Head Coach

“At the moment, I don’t think we are fighting for our lives, and that’s the challenge because very soon, if we don’t win games, then we are going to be.”

Gary Rowett, Oxford United Head Coach

Golden Flashback

The Hornets' last league win away against the U's came back in August 1993, with goals from Gary Porter, Julian Alsford and Ken Charlery securing a 3-2 victory.

Stat Attack

2 - Oxford boss Gary Rowett has won each of his last two league meetings with Watford, beating them 3-0 at home and 2-0 away in 2022/23 when he was at Millwall.

3 - Watford have kept a clean sheet in each of their last two away league matches; the Hornets last kept more away clean sheets in a row between January and February 2021 (3).

5 - Oxford have lost their last two home league games. The U’s haven’t lost more consecutively since a five-game losing run in February and March 2023.

9 - Oxford United are winless in their last nine league games (D4 L5), while losing four of their last five games (D1), as many as in their prior 15 matches (W6 D5).

13 - Only Derby County, Luton Town and Queens Park Rangers (all 15) have scored more goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties) in the Championship this season than Oxford United (13).

15 - Watford are unbeaten in their last 15 away games in all competitions against Oxford (W5 D10), with this their first visit to the U’s since a League Cup victory on penalties in September 2020.

19 - Watford have lost just one of their last five league games (W3 D1), keeping a clean sheet in four of those games, as many as in their prior 19 matches.

27- Oxford United have won two of their last 27 games against Watford in all competitions (D12 L13) and are winless in their last seven against the Hornets (D2 L5).

35 - Watford’s Moussa Sissoko has scored two goals in his last four league appearances, while he has the joint-most goals by a player aged 35+ in the Championship this season (3).

2021 - On the road, Watford are unbeaten in their last three league games (W1 D2), and could record three successive away league clean sheets for the first time since February 2021.

Player In Focus - Ciaron Brown

Position: Defender

Age: 25

Total appearances for Oxford: 154

Total goals for Oxford: 12

Goals this season: 4

League minutes played this season: 3,330

League appearances this season: 37 (Joint first in team)

Passes attempted this season: 1,769 (First in team)

Clearances this season: 224 (First in team)

Blocks this season: 33 (First in team)

Interceptions this season: 48 (First in team)

Live Blog

Not heading to the Kassam Stadium?

You can follow all the build-up, action and immediate post-match reaction with our live blog, which will be available on the Watford FC website and app from 1.30pm.

Get Your Gear!

The latest offer at The Hornets Shop has 25 per cent off all Kelme kit, available while stocks last.

Alternatively, click on the links to order the 2024/25 home, away, third or goalkeeper shirt, complete with the name and number of your favourite player.

Get Your Pass!

Find out HERE how you can follow the clash on the club’s iFollow service.