Blackburn Rovers vs. Oxford United: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Blackburn have looked significantly more threatening than Oxford thus far, registering an average expected goals rate of 1.46xG per game, with Oxford's rate notably lower by comparison at 0.92xG per game.

Yuki Okashi has three goals in three games for Blackburn and has looked menacing every time he's entered the pitch, so another goal may very well be on the cards here.

Similarly, Mark Harris has two goals so far this season and has personally recorded almost half of Oxford's entire xG total (0.9xG), so he stands out as their main threat.

Rovers have already taken care of one newly promoted outfit and we fancy them to make it two in two here. Blackburn 2-1 Oxford.

Two sides looking to continue their good starts to the season face off this weekend as Blackburn Rovers meet Oxford United.

• Date: 24/08/2024
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: Ewood Park, Blackburn

Blackburn currently sit 3rd in the Championship with four points from their first two games. It’s been an overwhelmingly positive start to the campaign for a Rovers side that most fancied would have a difficult campaign this time around.

Rovers narrowly avoided relegation last season with a 2-0 win away at Champions Leicester City on the final day of the season and much with turmoil plaguing the club behind the scenes involving the club’s questionable owners, there were slim funds available for transfers this summer.

However, the club did manage to bring a few players in on the cheap, and one name in particular, Japanese forward Yuki Ohashi, has really impressed in his first few weeks in English football.

Ohashi’s exploits will somewhat soften the blow of the exit of star player Sammie Szmodics, who last week departed the club for Ipswich Town. Szmodics leaves the club as the reigning Championship Golden Boot holder.

Blackburn’s manager, John Eustace, has already proven very adept at managing in difficult situations during his time at Birmingham City, so it feels like Rovers have the perfect man guiding the team at what is a very uncertain time for the club.

Rovers aren’t going to be anything special this season, but they have a very good chance of staying clear of the relegation battle based on their early showings and they have an excellent chance to claim another three points here.

Oxford United currently sit 9th in the Championship with three points from their first two games. It’s been a whirlwind last few months for the club, who after sealing promotion with a concentrated late surge of performances at the back end of last season have continued that trend, looking very good in the opening two games of the season.

Many believed Oxford would be immediately relegated back to League One, or would at least be deep in the relegation battle, and while that may still be the case, they’ve looked well beyond relegation fodder in the early weeks of the season.

Oxford lost star forward Josh Murphy in the summer but his absence hasn’t been felt quite as much as expected, largely because the likes of Cameron Brannagan, Ciaron Brown and Mark Harris have looked well at home in this division.

Oxford won’t be getting carried away but there is a strong sense of belief amongst the fan base, if there wasn’t already, that they can become an established Championship club.

These two sides have met only three times in their respective histories (2016, 2017 & 2018) with Blackburn winning all three games (3-0, 4-2, 2-1).

This game will not be televised live to U.K. audiences, but full radio coverage will be provided by BBC Radio Oxford.

Blackburn Team News:

Rovers are still without defender Scott Wharton, who is not expected to feature until after the new year.

Yuki Ohashi has surely worked his way into the starting lineup after another goal this weekend; whether that's instead of or alongside Makhtar Gueye remains to be seen.

Predicted lineup: Pears; Brittain, Carter, Hyam, Pickering; Tronstad, Travis; Dolan, Sigurðsson, Hedges; Ohashi.

Oxford Team News:

Oxford have a pretty clean bill of fitness coming into this game, with Will Goodwin expected to be the only injury absentee.

Manager Des Buckingham is unlikely to make many, if any, changes to his XI after another good performance last time out.

Predicted lineup: Cumming; Long, Moore, Brown, Bennett; Vaulks; Goodrham, Rodrigues, Brannagan, Płacheta; Harris.

Blackburn began their season with a game against another newly promoted team, Derby County, on home soil. Blackburn took the lead early in the first half through Tyrhys Dolan and dominated the entire half, but John Eustace’s men took their foot off the gas in the second and Derby eventually equalised via a set piece.

Rovers swiftly responded as Andreas Weimann headed in for a debut goal before substitute Sammie Szmodics swept in from 12 yards to give Blackburn a two-goal cushion. Yuko Ohashi then made it four with a very composed finish before Derby pulled a consolation goal back from another set play.

Rovers then travelled to League One side Stockport County in the EFL Cup just a few days later and delivered a clinic as they ran out 6-1 winners. Goals from Szmodics (X2), Weimann, Ohashi, Makhtar Gueye and Jack Vale sealed Blackburn’s progression to the next round.

At the weekend, Eustance’s side faced a tough trip away to Norwich City, and in a game where Blackburn were probably second best, they still managed to come away with a commendable point, with Ohashi’s excellent header just three minutes from time providing a fine equaliser after Ryan Hedges’ dink had given them the lead in the first half.

Oxford’s campaign kicked off with a game at home to Norwich City. Faced with a potential play-off contender, it was a very tough start to the season for Oxford, but Buckingham's side dealt with the Canaries quite comfortably, cruising to a very deserved 2-0 win. Mark Harris gave Oxford the lead in the first half before a fine Cameron Brannagan strike in the second sealed the three points.

In the week, Oxford faced off against former League One foe Peterborough United, who they faced in last season’s playoffs, and once again claimed a win, recording a 2-0 victory. It was a competitive encounter but one that Oxford deserved to win, with goals coming from Tyler Goodrham and Matt Phillips.

Oxford’s toughest test of the season came at the weekend as they took a Friday night trip to promotion hopefuls Coventry City. Coventry took the lead after 15 minutes but Oxford responded well, equalising through a fine Ciaron Brown finish just seven minutes later. Coventry retook the lead not long after that with a very well-worked goal, but in the second half Oxford once again drew level through a pretty scruffy goal from Harris.

Oxford looked well on their way to a huge point only for the game to end in the cruellest way possible as Will Vaulks played a backpass directly into the path of Coventry forward Haji Wright, who then rounded keeper Jamie Cumming to slot the ball into an open goal in the 96th minute, resulting in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat.

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