PREVIEW Oxford United v Ipswich Town

A full guide to tonight's game at the Kassam Stadium

14 January 2020

Oxford United welcome Ipswich Town to the Kassam Stadium this evening in Sky Bet League 1.

TEAM NEWS
United boss Karl Robinson returns to the bench after serving a one match suspension and is likely to make changes after defeat against Rotherham on Saturday. Marcus Browne came off the bench and scored on Saturday and is likely to start tonight while Nathan Holland also did well and could be in line for a full debut.

Cameron Brannagan misses out with a sore knee while James Henry is out for a further month with a thigh problem, which means he could return at around the same time as Ben Woodburn. Jamie Hanson is back in full training and could be back in the squad but Liam Kelly will be hoping that Brannagan's absence opens the door for a debut.

See Karl and Shandon Baptiste looking ahead to the game in iFollow right now.

THE OPPOSITION
Ipswich, in third, can draw level with joint leaders Rotherham and Wycombe if they win tonight, or drop to fifth and be leapfrogged by the U's if they lose.

Town are the only side United have yet to face in the league and have a familiar face in their side in left back Luke Garbutt who spent last season at the Kassam Stadium.

TICKETS
There is still time to book your place online at oufctickets.co.uk and print your tickets at home to save time on the day; our ticket staff are available to talk you through the best seats available on 01865 337533.

This season you can download your ticket to your mobile for use on the day - no need to even print it.

The Gaffer

The Quiz

The Programme

Match Information

FAMILY

The Family Room is open for this game with player visits and we have a full Family Guide to games available here: OUFCFamily.pdf

SENSORY ROOM
We are proud to have a bespoke Sensory Room for fans under 23 who maybe need to take a little time out on a matchday with our fully trained helpers. Just ask a steward if you would like to use it or email Supporter Liaison Officer Kath Faulkner for more details: kfaulkner@oufc.co.uk

PARKING

There are circa 2,000 free parking spaces at the stadium but with another big crowd expected we ask everyone to arrive early and park legally

Away fans- Please park in the West car park - the one closest to the cinema and bowling complex at the fence end of the ground.

AWAY GUIDE

If you are an Ipswich fan travelling to the game then a full Away Supporters Guide is available here: OUFCAwayDayInfo.pdf

CLUB SHOP

The Club Shop is open with everything you need for the winter weather. Pop in before the game.

COVERAGE

You can follow the whole game on twitter through @OUFCOfficial or on our Instagram page or here in our Match Centre, and SEE the game in iFollow if you are in the UK or if you are abroad.

Youth Team in Youth Cup Action on Wednesday

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT Oxford United 0 Ipswich Town 0

Rain Stops Play before U's and Town share the points

14 January 2020

Oxford United and Ipswich Town were left with a point apiece in a weather-interrupted draw at the Kassam Stadium this evening. An 18-minute delay due to torrential rain meant a late finish but neither of the evenly matched sides could find a goal as they cancelled each other out once the storm slowly abated.

Credit to both teams for even attempting to play decent football in the eye of the gathering storm which left puddles on the pitch, and also an honourable mention to both sets of fans, huddled at the back of the stands and soaked through within seconds of kick off.

Marcus Browne defied the conditions to skim past two men and drill an early attempt just wide before Alan Judge sent three efforts wide of the mark inside a six-minute spell as the Tractor Boys found a way to find traction on the surface, but conditions were deteriorating all the time as the rain drove down and surface water started to appear all over the pitch.

Almost inevitably we then we had a 15-minute delay when the game was held up and ref Tom Nield looked at the conditions in some depth. Literally. In the end the right decision was made after some top work from the groundstaff, a splendid bunch of forkers, although when the game resumed it naturally took a little while to regain its intensity.

Conditions were perhaps part of the ref’s decision making when John Mousinho slid in on James Norwood and seemed to catch man, mud and (faintly) the ball, but 0-0 at the break (18 minutes of added time included) was probably fair and gave everyone a chance to regroup and reset for the second half.

Ipswich had shaded the two disjointed sections of the first 45 minutes but United now had the storm at their back and playing with the tide they were much more on the front foot after the break, with Browne and Nathan Holland starting to drive at the visiting defence and chances starting to appear.

Tariqe Fosu fired a half chance into the side netting, Browne and Man of the Match Sam Long had long-range efforts but a clear opening refused to appear at either end until Josh Ruffels fired in a sweetly timed drive on 76 minutes which keeper Will Norris did well to save to his right, the ball taking a deflection on the way to make the save even better.

There was some sharp work from Simon Eastwood to rush from goal and tackle a Tractor Boy on the hour but as the game wore on it became increasingly apparent how well matched the two teams are. Well drilled, good on the ball and very committed, there wasn't much between them on the night and I suspect there won't be much between them in the final league table.

A point each, a clean sheet and given the weather a good effort all round. Perhaps a missed opportunity to gain ground on the top two, but both teams remain in the play-off places. Long way to go, plenty of games in plenty of conditions. Few though will be like the first 25 minutes tonight!

Oxford United

Standings

PREVIEW Oxford United v Ipswich Town

The Gaffer

The Quiz

The Programme

Match Information

Youth Team in Youth Cup Action on Wednesday

Ipswich Game Postponed

REPORT Oxford United 0 Ipswich Town 0

Ipswich Game Postponed

Standings

The Gaffer

The Quiz

The Programme

Match Information

Youth Team in Youth Cup Action on Wednesday

Fixture News

Ipswich Game Postponed

Fixture News

Ipswich Game Postponed