Preview: MK Dons vs. Oxford United - prediction, team news, lineups

Both MK Dons and Oxford United will continue their push towards the League One playoff spots when the pair meet at Stadium MK on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors currently sit fifth, boasting a two-point and two-place gap between themselves and their hosts.

Match preview

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A regular in the playoffs of recent seasons, Oxford have never been able to get over the final hurdle and earn promotion to the Championship.

It is now 22 years since Oxford last competed in the second tier of English football, with defeat to Blackpool in last season's playoff semi-final ending their latest pursuit.

That has not deterred manager Karl Robinson from trying once more, with his side looking for their third consecutive top-seven finish.

After a stuttering September that saw Oxford win only one of their five League One matches, the Yellows have recovered in some style, losing only once in their next 10 fixtures.

Oxford's latest triumph came in midweek against strugglers Doncaster Rovers, with a 2-1 victory extending their unbeaten run to seven league matches, while also moving Robinson's team up into the playoff spots.

The side who Oxford replaced were none other than their opponents this weekend, MK Dons, who sat out the midweek round of fixtures.

Should the hosts take three points on Saturday, they will leapfrog Oxford into sixth, with MK Dons dreaming of a return to the Championship.

A second-half Conor Grant equaliser denied MK Dons a statement three points against fellow promotion hopefuls Plymouth Argyle in midweek, with Liam Manning's side eager to bounce back this weekend.

Having lost only once at home in the last nine matches, MK Dons will be confident of taking three points when Oxford visit Stadium MK on Saturday.

If they are to steal a win, MK Dons will have to arrest a mini winless streak starting to emerge against Oxford, as the club are without a win in their previous two meetings from last season.

Team News

Troy Parrott will continue to serve the latest match of his three-game suspension this weekend, having been dismissed in the closing stages of MK Dons' EFL Trophy victory over Leyton Orient.

There was a return to the starting XI for Tennai Watson in midweek after he sat out the Orient game, and the defender repaid his manager by popping up with a first-half goal.

Following last month's Covid outbreak at the club, Robinson was pleased to welcome back both Matty Taylor and Mark Sykes to the fold in midweek, with the latter netting in Oxford's 2-1 win over Doncaster

Having started the campaign as second-string goalkeeper, Simon Eastwood will retain his place between the sticks.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:
Fisher; O'Hora, Darling, Lewington; Watson, Robson, McEachran, Harvie; O'Riley, Eisa, Twine

Oxford United possible starting lineup:
Jones; Knoyle, Anderson, Blythe; Hasani, Smith, Galbraith, Horton; Barlow, Rowe, Cukur

We say: MK Dons 1-2 Oxford United

It is unlikely that either of these two sides will break into the automatic promotion spaces, making the playoffs their only viable route out of the division.

MK Dons may be the home side, but Oxford have the experience in recent years, making an away win the most likely outcome.

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