Stoke City vs Oxford United | Match Preview

Bet365 Stadium
Wednesday 25 February, 8:00pm

Matt Bloomfield's team are back on the road for the second time in just a few days as they look to back up the point picked up against Middlesbrough on Saturday with another positive result against Stoke City on Wednesday night.

Tickets

Tickets will only remain available until 10:00am on the day of the match and will be no sales at the Bet365 Stadium. 

All tickets for this match are digital.

Form Guide - Snapshot

• Oxford United: W0 D2 L3 from the previous five games. Not for the first time this season, United showed they can more than match the Championship’s top sides in Saturday’s goalless draw with Middlesbrough. Goals have been hard to come by in recent weeks, but if they can replicate that level of performance and add a sharper edge in front of goal, three points will be a very realistic target in this one.
• Stoke City: W0 D3 L2 in their last five. Without a league win since 4 January, Stoke City will see this game against a team in the bottom three as a chance to turn their fortunes around. The Potters are looking to recapture the form they showed in the first half of the season which saw them sat in the top four in December.

The Rivalry - A Quick Head-to-Head Check

Stoke City made the trip to the Kassam Stadium in early November for the first meeting between the sides this season and left with all three points after a 3-0 win. A brace from Lewis Baker, along with a goal from Steven N’Zonzi, sealed victory for the Potters during a period when they were in red-hot form, climbing the Championship table and playing with real confidence.

Encounters between the two clubs have been relatively rare in recent years. There have been just three meetings in the last 25 years: Stoke’s November victory, a 1-0 win for United in September 2024, and a goalless draw at the Bet365 Stadium in January 2025.

Overall, the sides have met 22 times, with the Yellows recording nine wins and seven draws across those fixtures.

The Key Battles: Where This Game Could Be Won And Lost

• Looking lively down the flanks: Since making his debut just a few weeks ago, Jin Woo Jeon has already caught the eye with his pace and close control on the wing, adding a fresh dimension to United’s attack. Alongside him, Stanley Mills’ direct running and eagerness to take on his opposing full-back regularly drive him to the byline, where he consistently delivers dangerous crosses. With genuine threats now established on both flanks, the Yellows will look to commit more bodies into the box to ensure their wide play is properly capitalised on.
• Midfield battle: When Stoke visited the Kassam in November, they asserted clear control in midfield, with Steven N’Zonzi, Tatsuki Seko and Lewis Baker dictating the tempo with relative ease. If the U’s are to take a result on Wednesday night, they will need to be far more compact in the middle of the pitch and better at closing passing lanes, preventing the ball from being played through their midfield line as frequently as it was in OX4.
• Jamie Donley vs Jun-Ho Bae:  This contest could hinge on the battle between the two number 10s. Jamie Donley has shown encouraging flashes of quality since returning to the side and will be hoping those performances have earned him a place in the starting XI after featuring from the bench against Middlesbrough. Still searching for his first goal in Yellow, he could prove a key creative influence against his former club. For the Potters, the role is likely to be filled by South Korean international Jun-Ho Bae. The 22-year-old is a lively and technically gifted operator, blessed with quick feet and a constant desire to drive forward with the ball and commit defenders.

Team News From Both Camps

The main concern for Matt Bloomfield heading into this fixture surrounds Jamie McDonnell’s fitness. The Northern Ireland international was in outstanding form at Middlesbrough on Saturday before being forced off just after the hour mark with an ankle injury. He is now a doubt for this clash, as is Brodie Spencer.

Unavailable: Tyler Goodrham, Hidde ter Avest, Greg Leigh 

For the hosts, there are no new injury concerns following their weekend clash with Leicester City, although their squad has been stretched for much of the year by a number of key absences. First-choice goalkeeper Viktor Johansson has been sidelined since late December with a shoulder injury, while attacking options Sam Gallagher and Róbert Boženík have also spent the majority of 2026 on the treatment table.

England Under-21 forward Divin Mubama has likewise missed most of the calendar year and is unlikely to return in time for this fixture. Lewis Baker, who scored twice at the Kassam in November, has not featured since Stoke’s meeting with Coventry the following week and is also expected to remain unavailable.

Unavailable: Viktor Johannson, Sam Gallagher, Robert Bozenik, Divin Mubama, Lewis Baker, Ato Ampah, Gavin Bazunu, Junior Tchamadeu

Mark Robins' Stoke City: The Analysis

1) Stoke City were sat in the top four at the beginning of December having won nine and lost just six of their opening 18 games of the season. Playing on the front foot and an attack firing on all cylinders, The Potters were looking like they were comfortably heading towards the play-off spots at the very least. Three months on, the team sit 16th in the table and seven points back from those play-off positions.

2) Injuries to key players has severely hampered the teams progress in recent weeks, with up to nine regular starters unavailable since the start of 2026. As a result, the team have scored just four goals in their past seven Championship fixtures and have not looked the same side that won so convincingly at the Kassam Stadium earlier this season.

3) Under Mark Robins, Stoke City have most commonly operating in a 4-2-3-1 shape with an emphasis on balance and organisation. When at their very best, they are comfortable building from deep and keeping possession, averaging solid ball retention and pass accuracy, while prioritising defensive compactness and shape out of possession. Robins’ side tend to be disciplined and difficult to break down, demonstrated by the fact they have conceded the lowest number of goals of any team in the Championship this season (31).

4) At the Bet365 Stadium this season, Stoke City have won six, lost six and drawn four and are without a league win at home since they beat Swansea City on 13 December.

Jamie Cumming: United's Last Line of Defence

The Yellows' Number One produced a sensational Player of the Match performance away to Middlesbrough at the weekend to ensure back-to-back clean sheets away from home against the current top two teams in the division.

This season Cumming has been a key figure between the sticks for Oxford United, showing both resilience and shot-stopping ability in a challenging Championship campaign. As the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, he’s made a high volume of saves and played almost every minute, often keeping Oxford in games with important stops. There have been moments of inconsistency, but overall he’s demonstrated strong character and kept the team competitive, especially in difficult matches as proven at Coventry and Boro in recent weeks. His performances have been praised for composure and reliability, and he’s clearly established himself as a pivotal presence at the back for the Yellows this season.

By the Numbers — Fast Facts

• Kick-off: Wednesday 25 February, 8:00pm at the Bet365 Stadium.
• Recent form (last five): Oxford United W0 D2 L3; Stoke City: W0 D3 L2.
• Goals: Oxford United have scored 28 goals this season, Stoke City have scored 36.
• Fun Fact: Stoke City's famous red and white striped kit has been a long-standing identity, earning them the nickname “The Potters,” a nod to Stoke-on-Trent’s pottery heritage.
• Historic classics: Oxford United 1-0 Stoke City (14 September 2024); Oxford United 5-1 Stoke City (14 March 1998); Oxford United 3-2 Stoke City (18 April 1989)
• Played for both teams (Years at Oxford United): Jamie Donley (2026-present); John Dreyer (1985-1988); Michael Duberry (2011-2013); Phil Heath (1988-1990); Dave Kitson (2013-2014); Luke McNally (2021-2022); Tommy Mooney (2004-2005); David Oldfield (2002-2004); Mark Stein (1989-1991); Dean Whitehead (1999-2004)
• Top Goal scorers this season: Will Lankshear (6 goals); Sorba Thomas (9 goals).

Voices From The Camp:

Watch Matt Bloomfield and Will Vaulks' Press Conferences here:

RETAIL

Your Oxford United heroes will don the stunning black Macron away kit for Wednesday night’s clash with Stoke City. With the season drawing to a close, time is running out to secure this standout shirt - head over to the online store now and make sure you get yours before it’s gone.

Click HERE to browse the Away Kit.

Image

COMING UP

Image

We’re back in action at the Kassam Stadium this Saturday as we host West Bromwich Albion in OX4. 

Tickets for this match remain available:

• By clicking HERE
• By calling 01865 337 533
• By visiting the Ticket Office in person

MATCHDAY GUIDES

MATCHDAY STREAMING

Matty Taylor has returned to Oxford United! Watch this Access All Areas episode to get a glimpse of the work he is doing with the Club's Academy!