Oxford United and Cheltenham Town clash in completely contrasting areas of the League One table this Saturday afternoon as the home side aims to get themselves back in the playoffs just as the Robins look for a move further into safety.
Cheltenham have been in the relegation zone since practically the start of the season after failing to win a game in the first two months. Although form has improved since them to move them off the foot of the table, the club are still staring in the face of a drop back into League Two unless form changes for them.
The Robins are indeed out of the bottom three now, but with only a gap of two points on Port Vale in 22nd and a game extra to play for the latter, there is a chance that Cheltenham drop right back into the relegation spots over time.
The club have now lost 19 times after a midweek loss to Charlton Athletic, although Liam Sercombe did keep up his excellent form that day with yet another goal. This extended the winless run for Darrell Clarke's side to four games after a loss to Wycombe Wanderers and draws with Burton Albion and Wigan Athletic.
The last victory for Cheltenham was in fact over Port Vale in a result that moved them out of the bottom three. Matt Taylor scored in a comeback win that day to equalise, as Jack Shepherd did the same before Will Ferry netted the winner in the 73rd minute to seal just Clarke's ninth win of the League One season.
Things are looking similar for Oxford but at the opposite end of the table, as they have dropped out of the playoff spots in recent weeks and into seventh and with Barnsley, Peterborough United and Stevenage all above them having a game extra to play.
Oxford have secured 16 wins this League One season but have not secured a win since beating Wigan Athletic 4-2 where Josh Murphy, Cameron Brannagan, Ruben Rodrigues and Tyler Goodrham all scored a goal each.
Since then, the club have drawn with Wycombe Wanderers and Northampton Town before back-to-back losses against Leyton Orient and the league leaders Portsmouth. Nevertheless, it has still been an excellent season for Oxford and a chance to get into the playoffs is far, far from over.
