Despite finishing 15 points below the automatic promotion slots in League One during the 2023-24 season, Oxford United are back in the Championship for the first time since 1999 after a playoff victory in May, with Saturday’s hosts off to a good start in their return to the second tier.

Following three consecutive away defeats to Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, and Bristol City in August and September, the U’s earned back-to-back road victories before the international break in October, gaining points at home to Luton Town and League One champions Portsmouth.

Despite an episode of racial chanting, Oxford’s Louie Sibley scored his first goal for the club after joining from Derby County. The 23-year-old equalized for the visitors at Fratton Park, following Mark O’Mahony’s opening.

Des Buckingham’s team is now in 10th place in the Championship, four points behind Watford in the playoffs and five points clear of Queens Park Rangers in the highest relegation slot, following a three-match tie before the two-week break.

Mark Harris, who scored 11 goals in three second-tier seasons for Cardiff City between 2020 and 2023, is now enjoying his time in the division following a one-year sojourn in League One. The Wales international has scored four goals in 10 Championship games this season.

Following a sensational six-game unbeaten streak at the start of the 2024-25 Championship season, West Bromwich Albion have been brought back down to earth after a three-match winless run, with Saturday’s visitors to Oxford picking up just one point from consecutive home games prior to the international break.

Middlesbrough won with a second-half goal from England Under-21s star Hayden Hackney at The Hawthorns on October 1. However, four days later, the Baggies were unable to defeat Millwall, who earned a point in a goalless draw.

West Brom have tumbled from first to fourth in the Championship rankings before the two-week break. However, they are still only two points behind current leaders Sunderland and Sheffield United.

Tom Fellows, a 21-year-old product of the club’s academy, has stepped up to provide five assists for the Baggies after a number of first-team players left during the summer.

In contrast to previous season, West Brom have been merciless on the road in 2024-25, taking nine points from four games away from The Hawthorns, giving Corberan’s side the best away record in the Championship coming into this weekend’s matchups.

Oxford United’s Championship form: W W L D D D

West Bromwich Albion’s Championship record is as follows: W, W, L, and D.

Team News

Cameron Brannagan, Oxford’s playmaker, will be out of action for a few weeks due to knee injections.

Left-back Joseph Bennett will be out of play until late January owing to a fractured ankle sustained in August, preventing the U’s from utilizing his abilities.

Matt Phillips, who worked at The Hawthorns for eight years from 2016 to 2024, will be unable to confront his old employers due to muscular strain.

West Brom’s Paddy McNair, Mason Holgate, and Semi Ajayi will return from international action on Thursday, with the latter expected to pair Kyle Bartley at center-back.

The Baggies may make changes to their attacking lineup after failing to score against Millwall. Potential starters include Jed Wallace, John Swift, and Karl Grant.

Oxford United’s likely starting lineup: Cumming, Kioso, Long, Leigh, Brown; Vaulks, Dembele, Rodrigues, El Mizouni, Goodrham; Harris.

West Bromwich Albion’s likely starting lineup: Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Heggem; Molumby, Mowatt, Fellows, Swift, Johnston; Maja.

Our prediction: Oxford United 2-2 West Bromwich Albion.

Oxford, who are unbeaten at home in the Championship this season, will not be fearful of promotion hopefuls West Brom, who are coming off a spate of dismal performances.

We predict plenty of goals at the Kassam Stadium, with the U’s and Baggies finally sharing the second-tier spoils.

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