Not yet a six-pointer – but this match holds much more
weight than any Oxford fan would have expected at the start of the season.
Defeat to bottom of the league Wigan would be difficult to
take now - especially because their opponents have the second lowest expected
goals scored and the second highest expected goals conceded in the division.
Wigan’s league position seems fair on all the evidence
given, and although Oxford would argue theirs is not, now is the time to prove
it.
To do that though they will have to improve on their last performance against Crewe, which left many fans calling it the worst of the season.
Although Oxford were undoubtedly poor, some
credit has to be given to the opposition, whose pressing of Oxford’s midfield
made it very difficult for them to keep the ball.
They limited Oxford to a below average possession and passing accuracy - down 6% from United's season average. They have been keen to play this pressing game all season, averaging the third highest tackles per game in League One.
But it may be a different challenge from Wigan, who only average 13.7 tackles per game and are 17th ranked on possession in League One, opting for a slightly more direct approach.
Though this does not make it a a case of bypassing the midfield, as in
matches with Wigan, 43% of the action is played within the middle third, the
joint second highest in the league.
For an Oxford side who aim to get the ball down and play,
having themselves averaged 41% of the game in the middle section, this may be a
good sign as there could be more opportunities for them to get their foot on it
and build attacks.
It also seems likely that the game will be won or lost in this midfield battle, given the teams have conceded 27 goals from open play between them this season.
United then should enjoy the lion’s share of possession and
could really make it count against a poor defence in Wigan – as they may allow
Oxford to have slightly more of the ball than they have seen in recent weeks.
Pace on the break
If this is the case, we might find that Wigan try to utilise
the counterattack to break down Oxford.
Viv Solomon-Otabor is the obvious threat in that department.
He has not shown great consistency this season but when
playing has averaged one of the highest dribbles per game totals in the League,
and by far the highest in his team.
The winger has played his best stuff on the right wing this
season, and up against a slightly out of form Ruffels, Wigan may look to attack
that side with whoever starts there.
This is made even harder for Ruffels, who will also have Tom
Jones to deal with down his wing.
The full back has two goals this season, the second highest
in this Wigan team, and averages the third most passes per game in the side.
A massive 42% of Wigan’s attacks have come from the
right-hand side, and this could be one of the methods the Latics use to try and
breakdown this Oxford defence, with Kirk and Pickering pulling a very similar
job on United’s opposite flank last time out.
Though if Oxford are able to keep the ball away from their
left wing, they should have more joy in controlling proceedings against a side
less likely to press as ferociously as Crewe.
Two poor defences, but two equally poor attacks. It’s not El Classico, but any Oxford fan would take a scrappy 1-0 in these circumstances, in a match which will in all likelihood be quite low on quality, but is definitely massive in terms of confidence.
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