Oxford vs Swindon: Pre Match Stats Pack

Without fans, some games at the Kassam this season have been accused of feeling like an EFL Trophy match on a Tuesday night.

Not this one though. This is Oxford United vs Swindon Town. The game that needs no introduction, but here’s one anyway. 

It’s the first meeting between the rivals since February 2017 in a season where Swindon dropped to a lower division than Oxford for the first time since 1987.

But times have certainly changed since that season when John Aldridge top scored for United, as Oxford haven’t lost a league match to their friends down the motorway for more than fifteen years. 

They will come into this one in high spirits as well after finally putting some chances away in midweek, putting three past MK Dons to gain their second win of the season to take some pressure off a poor start.

Its been the reverse for the Robins who have lost their last five matches in all competitions after what was a promising start to life back in the third tier.

Swindon have scored only two goals in their last four league games after netting seven in their opening three.  

Additionally, only four sides have averaged less shots per game than Swindon and this may be partly down to their lack of threat in the air, with no side having less headed efforts per game than Richie Wellens’ side.

And although Swindon have attempted to play with directness, only Shrewsbury averaging more long balls per game than them, they have won the least total aerial duels in League One. 

Good news for an Oxford side who have struggled against more physical teams so far this season.

But this is not a call for Oxford to switch off completely, as a third of Swindon’s goals this season have come from set pieces.

Though the main threat for Oxford to look out for on Saturday is Smith, or one of them anyway.

The Robin’s have had three goal scorers with the surname Smith so far this season, with them making up nearly 50% of Swindon’s goals, but it’s Tyler Smith who poses the most danger.

He already has four goals in all competitions this season and was the only scorer in their last league defeat to Northampton. He will definitely be looking to capitalise on a fragile looking Oxford defence come Saturday.

Though the same can be said for United’s Matty Taylor who will be licking his lips at the sight of the opposition defence having himself got a goal in his last match. 

For two sides who have struggled to score lately, this could be the perfect match to find that finishing touch.  

In home games this season, Oxford have conceded an average of 13 shots per game and Swindon in away matches have allowed 14.7 per match, both totals amongst the highest in the division.  

In matches involving Oxford and Swindon this season, there has been a massive average of 3.24 goals per game, making this one a match for the strikers. 

But with Swindon's away conversion rate of just 6.25% and Oxford's home rate only marginally better, the two sides will need as many chances as they can get if this one is going to be another high scorer.

It has all the hallmarks of a classic derby match with chances galore looking likely between two teams locked together in the early season table.

Both sides are on six points with a goal difference of minus four but if any game is going to kickstart the season, it is going to be this one.

With seemingly nothing to tell who is going to win out in the 61^st competitive meeting between the two sides, the last thing to look at is who has had the better of the recent encounters, although no Oxford fan needs telling again.