Oxford United

Miron Muslic will take charge of his first game as Plymouth Argyle boss when the Championship's bottom side welcome Oxford United to Home Park on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The Pilgrims are winless in their past 11 league games (D5 L6), although did stun Premier League side Brentford with a 1-0 win in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

By contrast, the 17th-placed U's are unbeaten in four league games since Gary Rowett took charge (W3 D1) but were dumped out of the FA Cup by League One Exeter at the weekend.

• Plymouth Argyle have won four of their past five league games against Oxford United (L1), though that sole defeat did come in the reverse fixture earlier this season (2-0).

• Oxford United have lost each of their past two away league games against Plymouth 1-0 and could lose three such matches in succession for the first time since August 1989.

• Plymouth have drawn four of their past six home league games (W1 L1), while only Carrow Road (49) and Hillsborough (42) have seen more Championship goals this season than Home Park (39).

• Oxford are unbeaten in each of their past four league games (W3 D1), with no other Championship side picking up more points than them in the competition since Boxing Day.

• All four of Ruben Rodrigues' Championship goals for Oxford this season have come away from home, netting in each of their past two such games at Millwall and Preston.

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett says he expects the club to appeal against the red card Tyler Goodrham was shown in the FA Cup defeat at Exeter on Saturday.

Goodrham was sent off for elbowing Jake Richards in the face as the Grecians midfielder pulled him back in the 81st minute.

"Tyler at this moment in time is going to be unavailable, I'd imagine for three games, so that's a bit of a blow," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

"I will speak to the club this morning but I think we will appeal it. I think when you watch it back, he [Goodrham] has tried to free himself.

"It's a straight arm, the arm has caught the player just under the chin. I don't think it was malicious but I think proving that he hasn't done it with that intent is obviously very difficult.

"There's two very different things, we know the type of player he is, but whether a referee is going to change his mind or whether a panel is going to change that for him. But I think we will probably look to appeal that."

If Goodrham's red card is not overturned, he will serve a three-match suspension and miss Oxford's trip to Plymouth on Tuesday night, as well as home games against Blackburn and Luton.

Oxford United make the trip to Devon to face Exeter City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

• This is just the second FA Cup meeting between Exeter and Oxford United, with the U's previously winning a second round tie 4-1 in November 2022.

• Exeter have won just one of their past 14 meetings with Oxford United in all competitions (D5 L8), winning 1-0 away in League One in January 2023.

• Exeter are looking to reach the FA Cup fourth round for the first time since 1980-81, going out at this stage of the competition 10 times since then.

• Oxford United have been eliminated from the FA Cup at the third round stage in both of the last two seasons, losing these games by an aggregate score of 9-2.

• No player has scored more FA Cup goals this season than Exeter's Josh Magennis (four, first round onwards). The last player to score more for the Grecians in a single campaign in the competition proper was Jayden Stockley in 2017-18 (five).

Image source, Rex Features

Oxford United captain Elliott Moore will be out for at least the next "three or four games", says head coach Gary Rowett.

The U's defender had to go off during the New Year's Day win at Millwall and missed last weekend's draw at Preston North End because of a muscle injury.

"There's a little issue in there and we think it'll be another few weeks before we know where it's at," Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford.

"It might be we don't know (the full extent) until after the window shuts so we'll have to have a think about that but he'll definitely be unavailable for the next three or four games."

Oxford have recalled defender Stephan Negru from his loan at League Two Salford City but Rowett is yet to decide whether to use him as cover for Moore's absence.

"It allows us to have a closer look at him but there has been some interest from higher up with League One clubs but certainly with Elliott out injured it's nice to have him back," he added,

"The challenge of the weekend is if he plays for us he can only then go back to Salford so we'll work out what's best for him in the next week or two."

Oxford visit Exeter City in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford United have recalled defender Stephan Negru from his season-long loan with League Two promotion challengers Salford City.

Negru has made 17 league starts for Salford this season since joining them in July.

The 22-year-old signed for Oxford from League of Ireland side Shelbourne in January 2023 and made 15 appearances in their League One promotion-winning campaign last season.

He returns to Oxford in time for this weekend's FA Cup third-round tie at Exeter, with the U's having an injury doubt surrounding defender Elliott Moore.

Moore suffered a groin injury in the win at Millwall on 1 January and missed Saturday's draw at Preston North End.

Meanwhile, Oxford have confirmed goalkeeper Ed McGinty has signed for League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers on a permanent deal.

The 25-year-old, who made 10 first-team appearances for the U's, had been on loan with Sligo Rovers, from whom he joined Oxford in 2022.

Image source, Getty Images

Oxford United boss Gary Rowett said his side's 1-1 draw at Preston was the best result since he took charge last month.

Rowett, 50, was appointed as United manager following the sacking of Des Buckingham and has overseen a fine upturn in form, winning his first three Championship matches before Saturday's draw.

"In my opinion, it is the best result of the four and the one I'm probably most proud of because we dug in and showed character," the former Birmingham City manager told BBC Radio Oxford.

"To come in 1-0 up was rather fortunate shall we say. If we'd have been 2-0 down, I certainly couldn't have complained massively."

After victories over Cardiff, Plymouth Argyle and Millwall, Rowett said the point picked up at Deepdale - in a game in which he lost Mark Harris and Peter Kioso to injury - was precious.

"It is not an easy place to come - I thought we were very, very dogged to get the point," he added.

Oxford United have now taken 10 points from a possible 12 under Gary Rowett following their 1-1 draw at Preston on Saturday.

Former U's defender Ben Purkiss has been discussing Rowett's impressive start to life at the Kassam Stadium on The Dub podcast alongside host Robyn Cowen, EFL expert George Elek and BBC Oxford's sports editor Jerome Sale.

Purkiss said he had noticed "a few tweaks in the shape" since Rowett took over.

"I felt like the second half against Preston, it looked to me that he adapted and went to pretty much a three at the back," Purkiss said.

"He almost matched up Preston and the way in which they played. So, he's shown the ability to adapt."

Oxford have beaten fellow strugglers Cardiff and Plymouth in their four-game undefeated run, as well as a Millwall side with only one win in 11.

Purkiss believes the relatively kinder fixtures could have influenced the club's decision to sack former boss Des Buckingham three weeks ago.

"That may have been factored into the decision as to the timing of moving Des on and getting Gary in because they were four fixtures you look at and target as realistic opportunities," Purkiss added.

"To be fair, he [Rowett] has taken them. I think you've seen a bit more calmness and composure around the team."

Listen to The Dub podcast on BBC Sounds as the panel also discuss the January transfer window and new signing Ole Romeny.

Preston North End welcome Oxford United to Deepdale on Saturday for just the second time in 25 years (15:00 GMT).

Both sides dwell in the bottom half of the table but did win to end 2024 on a positive note, each taking two wins in their final two fixtures.

However, while Oxford triumphed over Millwall at the start of 2025, Preston suffered a 3-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion.

A win for either side would see them pull further clear of danger but Preston will have to do something they have never done against a Gary Rowett side - win.

• Preston North End will host Oxford United in any competition for the first time since March 2000 in the third tier, when they won 3-1 thanks to a brace from Brett Angell and a goal from Jon Macken.

• Oxford United have won five of their last seven league meetings with Preston North End (L2), winning the reverse fixture 3-1 earlier this season.

• Preston North End are unbeaten in each of their last six home league games (W2 D4), last going seven without loss at Deepdale in April 2023 (W4 D3).

• Oxford United are winless in their last 10 matches played on a Saturday (D4 L6), since beating Stoke in September last year.

• Oxford United manager Gary Rowett is unbeaten in 14 previous league meetings with Preston North End (W8 D6), the only opponent he has faced more than seven times without ever losing.

Image source, Rex Features

Malcolm Ebiowei's season-long loan at Oxford United has been terminated and the winger has returned to his parent club Crystal Palace.

The England Under-20 winger started only once for the U's, playing 77 minutes in the Carabao Cup defeat at Coventry in August, following on from 45 minutes off the bench in the previous round at home to Peterborough.

Ebiowei played just 64 minutes in total across four substitute appearances in the Championship, the last of which came in a home defeat by Swansea in early November.

The 21-year-old did not even make the bench in the club's past nine games.

"We would like to wish him well for the future," a U's statement said.