A closer look at the U's
THE GRECIANS are quickly back in action as they welcome promotion-chasers Oxford United in Sky Bet League 2 this evening.The visitors are currently third in the league table, but are looking to avoid a three-match losing run after recent defeats against Northampton Town and Accrington Stanley.
The U’s are very much in the hunt for promotion this season with much of the praise going to the highly-rated Kemar Roofe, who is the Oxfordshire club's top-scorer with fifteen goals to his name in all competitions.
The two sides last met on Boxing Day, when the Grecians suffered a 3-0 defeat at the Kassam Stadium.
Previous meetings with Oxford United
The two clubs have met thirty-three times in the past, with City recording thirteen victories over the U’s, who have beaten the Grecians just six times.
EARLY MEETINGS
The first recorded match between the two clubs was in March 1963 in League Division Four, as City dismantled their opponents 3-0 at Oxford’s Manor Ground stadium, a ground they left for the Kassam in 2001.
After beating Oxford a further three times and drawing once, it took until December 1965 for Oxford to be victorious as they narrowly beat City 2-1 at St James Park.
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE BATTLES
The majority of clashes between the two sides took place in League Division Three, with neither side able to beat the other on consistent basis. City did put an impressive run together which saw them avoid defeat to Oxford in eleven matches, as the Grecians recorded five wins and six draws against the yellows between 1982 and 2012. (The clubs did not play each other for 17 years between 1984-2001 due to both teams moving through different divisions.)
MORE RECENT RESULTS
Since the clubs' first meeting in League 2 in September 2012, they have met on seven occasions, four of which have seen draws, leaving Oxford with two victories and City with one.
This means City’s last victory over Oxford was that first League Two meeting in 2012, when Jamie Cureton scored twice for the Grecians as they won 4-2.
City’s last two meetings with Oxford at St James Park both ended 0-0, and Paul Tisdale will be looking to better those results this time around as the Grecians look to get back to winning ways.