Match Preview | Latics v Oxford United

A closer look at Tuesday’s game against Oxford United at the DW Stadium

• Match Preview | Latics v Oxford United
• A closer look into Tuesday’s clash at the DW Stadium
• Leam Richardson will be hoping to make it 20 unbeaten in all competitions

Wigan Athletic will host Oxford United in Sky Bet League One on Tuesday evening (kick-off 19:45pm). 

Leam Richardson’s side will head into the fixture looking to return to winning ways after being held to a goalless draw at Cheltenham Town on Saturday afternoon. Latics will be hoping to extend their remarkable unbeaten run to 20 games in all competitions, and strengthen their grip in the automatic promotion places.

Oxford, on the other hand, arrive at the DW Stadium following a record-breaking victory at the Priestfield Stadium. Cameron Brannigan scored four penalties as United were in seventh heaven at Gillingham and retained their place in the Play-Offs spots. It proved to be a history making afternoon for Karl Robinson’s side after it was the first time they had notched seven goals in a single game in the Football League.

FORM GUIDE – LAST SIX IN ALL COMPETITIONS

Latics: WWWWWD

Oxford: WDLLWW

THEIR SEASON SO FAR | OXFORD UNITED

Currently sitting in sixth place in the Sky Bet League One table, Oxford United will be hoping to build on their impressive first half of the season and challenge for promotion in the 2021/22 campaign.  

Promotion has always been the aim for the U's and Karl Robinson's side have missed out via the Play-Offs in the previous two seasons, last year losing a Play-Off semi-final against Blackpool.  

Oxford were able to strengthen their squad in the summer with several impressive reinforcements. Billy Bodin, Ryan Williams and Gavin Whyte are three signings that have naturally caught the eye given their wealth of experience in the EFL whilst the returning Marcus McGuane and Herbie Kane are two exciting midfielders who add plenty of craft in the engine room.  

Starting the new season with a 1-1 draw at Cambridge United, the U's won three of their first five matches in August, including resilient victories against Charlton Athletic, Crewe Alexandra and Lincoln City. September saw Oxford claim five points from six league matches, with the standout performance being their 5-1 home triumph over Accrington Stanley.  

Oxford began October in the same manner in which they finished the last, recording a memorable away win at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday. The victory instilled confidence as the U's racked up 12 points from a total of five games, leading to manager Karl Robinson being nominated for the League One Manager of the Month award.  

Oxford United earned a hard-fought point at in-form Ipswich Town before falling to a narrow 4-3 defeat at Bristol Rovers in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup. They then ended November strongly after recording a 3-1 win over Fleetwood Town, before earning a draw against table-toppers Rotherham United. 

It’s was an almost perfect month for the U’s in December, as after battling to come away with a point at Sunderland, Oxford recorded two successive away victories at Doncaster Rovers and MK Dons before falling to a home defeat against Latics. Robinson’s side bounced back and ended the calendar year with a emphatic victory over AFC Wimbledon at the Kassam Stadium.  

This evening’s opponents have had mixed fortunes at the start of 2022 as after being held to a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham Town, they succumbed to consectutive league defeats on the road at Lincoln City and Wycombe Wanderers. Oxford United then returned to winning ways in some style after recording consecutive victories over Sheffield Wednesday and Gillingham. It was certainly an afternoon to remember at the Priestfield Stadium for Robinson's men, as Cameron Brannigan's four penalties helped United claim a 7-2 victory over the Gills.

After putting down impressive foundations during the first half of the season, Robinson’s side will be aiming to continue their upwards progression and finally gain promotion to the Championship.  

PLAYER IN FOCUS | MATTY TAYLOR

An experienced goal scorer in the EFL, Matty Taylor will be hoping that he can fire the U's to a successful season in the 2021/22 Sky Bet League One campaign. 

Oxford-born Taylor began his career with his hometown club in 2007, making seven substitute appearances before joining newly promoted Southern League Premier Division side Didcot Town in June 2009. Later that year, he moved on to North Leigh and scored a staggering 80 goals in two seasons, with his clinical form earning him a move to Forest Green Rovers in September 2011. 

He spent three-years with the Green Army, before signing for newly relegated Conference Premier side Bristol Rovers in June 2014. He notched 20 goals in his maiden season for the Gas, including one in each of the Play-Off semi-final matches against his former side Forest Green Rovers, before scoring the second penalty in their shootout victory over Grimsby Town in the Play-Off Final to secure an immediate return to the Football League. 

Taylor was able to follow up his successful debut campaign with 27 goals and five assists as Bristol Rovers won back-to-back promotions, with the forward scoring a dramatic 92nd-minute winner against Dagenham & Redbridge on the final day of the season to help confirm their place in Sky Bet League One. 

In January 2017, Taylor then became the first player to move directly from Bristol Rovers to Bristol City since Trevor Morgan in 1987. He made 36 appearances for City, with a large percentage of those coming in the Championship, before returning to Oxford United on a season-long loan in August 2019. It proved to be a huge success after he re-discovered his scoring touch and netted 17 goals in all competitions, leading to a permanent move the following summer. 

Scoring 19 goals in 52 appearances in 2020/21, Taylor has already started the new campaign in the same manner that he finished the last. He has bagged 15 goals in 28 appearances in all competitions ahead of their trip to the DW Stadium, including one against Latics in our last meeting in December 2021.  

A player with undoubted quality at this level, Taylor will be one of the key threats for the away side, should he be involved tomorrow evening. 

HEAD TO HEAD

Latics and Oxford United have previously met 13 times in senior competitions since their first-ever encounter in December 1982, with seven victories for Latics, five wins for Oxford, and one draw. 

After failing to record a win in their first four meetings, Latics claimed their first victory over Oxford United in January 2000 courtesy of goals in either half from Scott Green and Andy Liddell. 

It was an afternoon to remember, saviour and cherish as Wigan Athletic racked up a new club record victory following their biggest ever win over Oxford United in December 2017. Latics enjoyed a memorable first visit to the Kassam Stadium as goals from Will Grigg (3), Nick Powell, Gavin Massey and Max Power (2) secured a famous win for Paul Cook's side- which was then the Club’s biggest league win since entering the Football League in 1978 (now beaten by the 8-0 victory over Hull City). 

The reverse and last meeting at the Kassam Stadium back in December served up a real Christmas cracker as Leam Richardson's side came out on top in a five-goal thriller thanks to James McClean's late winner. Will Keane and Max Power’s first-half goals helped Latics storm into a two-goal lead, but strikes from Ryan Williams and Matty Taylor brought the game back level at the Kassam Stadium. With just four minutes remaining on the clock, McClean struck late to help Latics earn all points, as seen below.

TICKETS

Buy your ticket now as Latics host Oxford United at the DW Stadium on Tuesday 1 February. 

We strongly advise supporters to purchase tickets in advance. There are no cash turnstiles in operation at the DW Stadium, which is now a cashless stadium. To avoid matchday queues, please purchase your ticket in advance.

Tickets from the initial fixture will be eligible for the rearranged game, with refunds for tickets purchased for the inital game available by emailing ticketoffice@dwstadium.com

Ticket prices for Tuesday's match are as follows:

Adults: £23
Over 65s: £15
18-21s: £15
Under 18s: £10
Under 12s: £5
Under 5s: £2

HOW TO BUY:

Online - [CLICK HERE]
Phone - 01942 311111 (9am-5pm - Monday-Friday + from 11am on Matchday)
In Person - (9am-5pm - Monday-Friday + from 11am on Matchday)