Oxford United return to action on Sunday as they prepare to welcome relegation rivals, Plymouth.

The U’s edged past fellow strugglers Cardiff in Gary Rowett‘s first game in charge on Boxing Day.

Oxford United Welcome Plymouth

Team News, Form and Prediction

The U’s did take a three-goal lead in that victory over the Bluebirds but will be frustrated at conceding two late goals. Despite that, the result moved Oxford out of the bottom three.

As for Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth, they lost 4-0 on the road at Frank Lampard’s Coventry, meaning their poor away from continues.

The Pilgrims played well in their previous two fixtures, despite defeat at Sheffield United and a 3-3 draw at home against Middlesbrough. However, they have just one win from their last 13 games and some of those losses have been heavy defeats.

The win over Cardiff lifts the U’s back into the top half of the home form table with five wins and four draws from 11 games at Grenoble Road, but Plymouth have struggled on the road this season, picking up just two points while scoring just three and conceding a staggering 30 goals from 12 games.

Oxford have no new injury concerns for this fixture and saw the return of Siriki Dembele and Louie Sibley from the bench against the Bluebirds.

Callum Wright was sent off for Plymouth in their defeat against Coventry and they also have joint-top goalscorers Ibrahim Cissoko and Morgan Whittaker out injured, along with captain Joe Edwards.

Plymouth have won the last four meetings against the U’s, including two 3-1 victories at Grenoble Road. Both sides have recorded three wins each from the last six meetings in Oxfordshire.

Predicted line-up: Jamie Cumming, Greg Leigh, Ciaron Brown, Elliott Moore, Sam Long, Will Vaulks, Cameron Brannagan, Tyler Goodrham, Ruben Rodrigues, Przemyslaw Placheta, Mark Harris.

Prediction: Oxford United 2-0 Plymouth Argyle