Will the memories of last season’s playoffs come back to haunt Peterborough? 4-0 up from the first leg last season, they somehow managed to lose and miss out on a Wembley final, they come here with a similar squad, and looking for redemption.

Oxford have been rock solid all season, and will look to take advantage of any insecurities that Peterborough are holding onto.

Check out my Oxford v Peterborough betting tips and predictions below for the first leg on Friday, and if you want my full League One playoff preview then I’ve compiled a look at all four sides.

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Oxford Recent Form

Oxford might just hold an ace up their sleeve coming into this one. Go back three weekends, and they won 5-0 at home over Peterborough, if they needed any kind of psychological boost for this game, that should definitely give them it.

I see Oxford as the most solid team out of the four in the playoffs. If all teams play at their very best, I think Oxford are 4th best, but at the same time, I think Oxford are the most likely to hit a seven out of 10 performance from all of their players, and be the most consistent.

That’s a bit of a slight on Cameron Brannagan, which I don’t intend, because he is the star quality they have in the middle of the park, and a player who would get into any midfield in League One, plus plenty in the Championship.

The Oxford game plan runs through him, 12 goals and 10 assists, he is Mr Oxford, and if Branigan is shut down, then Oxford become far easier to play against.

Oxford lost one of their last eight, with five wins in that period, a run that saw them successfully claim a place in the playoffs on the final day of the season, after being around them for much of it.

The big 5-0 win over Peterborough, plus 4-0 wins over Burton and Fleetwood show the attacking capabilities of this team, when they are in their groove.

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Peterborough Recent Form

Peterborough are probably the toughest of the four playoff teams to gauge, as they’ve made changes and rested players over the past few weeks. So an away defeat to Cheltenham and home draw with Bolton, don’t give the full picture.

They go away first, where it all went wrong last season, and on top of that, they are visiting a ground where they were beaten 5-0 last month, so this is going to be a mental challenge.

But in terms of quality, it’s easy to say Peterborough are as good as anyone else in the playoffs.

Ephron Mason-Clark, Kwame Poku & Joel Randall are the perfect supporting cast for any striker, all three are into double figures for goals, and give threats in behind while Ricky-Jade Jones (10 goals) and Jonson Clarke-Harris (9 goals) are likely to be the ones leading the line a little higher up the field.

They score a lot, and I don’t think the task against Peterborough should be stopping them from scoring, more about how to outscore them, because other than the odd off-day, this Posh front line delivers week in week out.

With 89 goals, they were the League One top scorers, but the 61 they conceded was the second worst of any team in the top half, second only to Barnsley.

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Oxford v Peterborough Predictions

I like the chances of an Oxford win here, this is their chance to get a grip of the tie and get something to take to London Road with them, and I think they’ll take it.

Overall, I think it’s far more evenly split than the bookmakers make this one, I make it a coin toss between two good sides.

Posh have the slight attacking advantage, more goals in their team, so I do think we will see goals, and the more goals we see, the higher their chances are of coming out on top. But don’t forget Oxford put five past Peterborough three weeks ago.

Oxford v Peterborough Betting Tips

I am going to kick off with an Oxford win here, available at 13/10 with bet365. I think they’ll play some expansive football, go out to take an advantage away with them, and get the job done.

Oxford to win

Oxford v Peterborough

Secondly, I like goals here. Rather than picking out a correct score, I will take a punt on both teams to score in both halves of this game, which offers decent value at 15/2 with Unibet.

Both teams to score in both halves

Oxford v Peterborough

Lastly, in a big game, Oxford need their man to deliver and I think he will. I’ll take Cameron Brannagan to score anytime in the game at 18/5 with William Hill.

Cameron Brannagan anytime scorer

Oxford v Peterborough