Portsmouth v Oxford United preview: What's been said, team news, predicted XIs, referee, form guides and key starts

Here’s all the stats and big-match details ahead of the game (7.45pm).

What’s been said

Danny Cowley

'I think Oxford are a top team in this division.

'I think they've proven that over a consistent period of time.

'They're always in and around the play-offs and I would expect by the time we get to May them to be there or thereabouts.

'They've got some really good players for the level, a good way of playing.

'To be fair to them, they've had a lot of key injuries at the beginning of the year and that probably disrupted them and prevented them getting the shape and style they wanted to play.’

Karl Robinson

‘On Tuesday we are going to a very difficult place and we are going to have to be even better than we were on Saturday.

‘Fratton Park is an outstanding place. The people there and the fans. It’s absolutely brilliant. My first game as Oxford Manager was there and we are very proud of what we have achieved here since that day.

‘What you are seeing on the pitch is so far off what we want to be right now but perhaps that’s part of the process you have to go through with it’s many peaks and troughs.

‘It’s never plain sailing - if you look all the way back to Jim Smith’s time at the club there were so many ups and downs even back then. #

‘Years later people forget the troughs but right now the line we are progressing along means nothing to people. It is all about getting results. Hopefully we can start that again on Tuesday.’‘

Pompey team news

Danny Cowley expects to welcome back at least three key players for tonight’s visit of Oxford United to Fratton Park.

Marlon Pack (suspension), Joe Rafferty (stomach muscle) and Tom Lowery (hamstring) are all on course to make their returns to the match-day squad.

However, the Blues will adopt a wait and see approach for Joe Morrell, who had to sit out Saturday’s 1-0 win at Forest Green Rovers with a back injury – despite being named on the bench for the trip to Forest Green.

Meanwhile, Michael Jacobs is set to see a specialist on Tuesday in a bid to discover the full extent of the hamstring injury he picked up at Charlton last week.

That follows the attacking midfielder going for a scan on the injury in the aftermath of the Addicks defeat, although Cowley admitted they are hopeful there is nothing too serious to worry about

Predicted XI: Josh Griffiths, Joe Rafferty, Sean Raggett. Clark Robertson, Connor Ogilvie, Owen Dale, Marlon Pack, Jay Mingi, Reeco Hackett, Dane Scarlett, Colby Bishop.

Oxford team news

The U’s have appealed Matty Taylor’s red card against Peterborough on Saturday and are awaiting the result.

The striker was shown a straight red card by referee Andy Woolmer after tangling with the Posh’s Ronnie Edwards in the second half of a fiery encounter at the Kassam Stadium.

A three-match ban awaits the former Bristol Rovers man is the appeal is not successful.

U’s boss Karl Robinson welcomed back Lewis Bate and Jodi Jones for the game against Peterborough as they made inroads on their injury list.

That list still includes Sam Baldock and Josh Murphy, who are making steady progress on their returns, while James Henry and Yanic Wildschut remain out.

Predicted XI: Simon Eastwood, Ciaron Brown, Stuart Findlay, Elliott Moore, Sam Long, Alex Gorrin, Marcus McGuane, Cameron Brannagan, Billy Bodin, Marcus Browne, Kyle Joseph.

Matchday odds (Bet365)

Pompey: 19/20

1-0 13/2, 2-0 17/2, 2-1 15/2, 3-0 16/1, 3-1 14/1, 3-2 25/1

Oxford: 3/1

1-0 11/1, 2-0 20/1, 2-1 12/1, 3-0 40/1, 3-1 28/1, 3-2 33/1

Draw: 13/5

0-0 10/1, 1-1 11/2, 2-2 14/1, 3-3 40/1, 4-4 200/1.

Officials

Referee: Sam Purkiss

Assistants: Johnathon Bickerdike and Richard Morris

Fourth official: Adrian Tranter

Key Stats (all competitions)

Pompey

Record this season: P16 W9 D5 L3

League Position: 5th

Top goalscorer: Colby Bishop (8)

Most Assists: Owen Dale (3)

Discipline: 22 yellows cards, 1 red card

Oxford

Record this season: P18 W6 D2 L10

League Position: 19th

Top goalscorer: Cameron Branagan (7)

Most Assists: Ciarna Brown, Marcus Browne, Lewis Bate, James Henry, Matty Taylor and Billy Bodin (11 on one)

Discipline: 31 yellows cards, 2 red card

Form guide

Pompey

W 1-0 Forest Green Rovers (A) – League One

L 3-0 Charlton (A) – League One

D 1-1 Fleetwood (H) – League One

W 5-0 Aston Villa U21 (H) – EFL Trophy

L 3-2 Ipswich (A) – League One

Oxford

L 2-1 Peterborough (H) – League One

L 2-0 Sutton United (A) – Papa John’s Trophy

W 4-2 Exeter (A) – League One

L 1-0 Wycombe (H) – League One

L 2-1 Chelsea U21s (H) – Papa John’s Trophy

Tuesday’s other fixtures (7.45pm kick-offs unless stated)

Barnsley v Lincoln City, Bolton Wanderers v Burton Albion, Charlton Athletic v MK Dons, Cheltenham Town v Morecambe, Derby County v Exeter City, Fleetwood Town v Forest Green Rovers, Peterborough United v Accrington Stanley, Plymouth Argyle v Shrewsbury Town, Port Vale v Ipswich Town, Wycombe Wanderers v Cambridge United.

Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday v Bristol Rovers (8pm)