MATCH PREVIEW: Oxford United vs Charlton Athletic - Saturday 14th March 2025 - 12:30pm Kick-Off
Oxford United vs Charlton Athletic
Saturday 14th March 2025 - 12:30pm Kick-Off
Referee: Matthew Donohue
Introduction
Charlton all but confirmed their participation in the Championship for the 2026/27 the other evening... Our first year at this level since 2020 has been a bit Jekyll and Hyde at times, with performances leaving us scratching our heads in both annoyance and bemusement. Our latest victory at the Riverside Stadium certainly falls into the latter category.
The Opposition
Name: Oxford United (22nd) - Manager: Matt Bloomfield
Ground: Kassam Stadium
Previous Result: Oxford 1-0 Blackburn
Of course its unwise to truly think that we're safe from relegation until its a mathematical certainly, however three points tomorrow lunchtime will go a long way to that fact
We swap the North East of England, for Oxfordshire, and a trip to Oxford United awaits, with the home side looking to continue their own form, and are left wondering why three wins on the trot, still leaves them in the relegation zone!! - But that has been the case for the hosts in recent weeks, and whilst their three victories are games they basically needed to win (two of those coming against West Brom and Blackburn), they'll know that it'll be vital for them to continue this good run of form if they themselves want to be a Championship side come August.
Its been quite a remarkable 15-months for their Manager; Matt Bloomfield was flying high with Wycombe Wanderers, yet last January decided to swap a promotion fight, for a relegation scrap, joining Luton Town where he was unable to stop the Hatters from back to back relegations. His time in charge at Kenilworth Road was not successful and he was sacked in October. Bloomfield took charge at the Kassam in January, a second attempt at a great escape, and given current form... This time he might just achieve it.
In terms of head2head and Oxford have been a bogey team of late, our win at the Valley in December was our first over them since 2020, yet we do still have 16-wins overall to their 15-wins... The last time that we managed to complete the League Double over our hosts was in 1997/98, a 2-1 win courtesy of late goals from Clive Mendonca and John Robinson
Our win that January in 1998 was also the last time we've tasted League victory in that particular corner of Oxfordshire
Charlton Team News
Nathan Jones will be faced with a mini dilemma this coming Saturday, does he opt to put Thomas Kaminski straight back into the starting eleven, or does Will Mannion keep his place. The obvious answer is the latter; Mannion has continued his good form between the sticks, keeping two clean sheets on the trot in our last two games, so would be harsh to drop him.
Elsewhere and there was a complete overhaul in defence with Keenan Gough, Conor Coady and Macauley Gillesphey stepping up to the plate in Middlesbrough, yet you'd expect us to revert to normality this coming weekend, especially as Lloyd Jones has now avoided a dreaded two match ban... The Defender will still need to avoid picking up six bookings between now and the end of the season, the last thing we'd need is for Lloyd to potentially start the 2026/27 with a three match ban hanging over him.
Mannion
Ramsay - Jones - Bell
Clarke - Coventry - Docherty - Chambers
Carey
Dykes - Kelman
Substitutes: Kaminski - Gillesphey - Coady - Fevrier - Costello - Fullah - Gough - Leaburn - Campbell
Comments
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We all know what happens after a result like Wednesday’s.
2-0 defeat and no shots on target.20 -
Thought we were going to get the match thread before the preview 😉
Excellent as ever FA. Set pieces the key this weekend I think5 -
Had to show my face in the Office for once today, how rude to put work above CharltonLifefenaddick said:Thought we were going to get the match thread before the preview 😉
Excellent as ever FA. Set pieces the key this weekend I think
10 -
Got to go for a another comfortable masterclass from the invincibles 0-4, and chalk up the 50 point mark in style...plus we're in RED as well, so it's written in the stars I tell ya...2
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Concerned that some of our players will be shattered/injured after Wednesday and this game might be a day too soon. Oxford also played on Wednesday but they were at home.
Narrow defeat, I think, but I'd love to be wrong (and I don't mean heavy defeat by that!).6 -
Win and we're safe.
Lose and Oxford pull to within 6 points.
No need to be greedy, or overconfident, a point would be a good outcome.16 -
This was billed us our biggest game of the season about a month ago but how times have changed ..but looking at it from a selfish point of view would we prefer Blackburn and Oxford in the championship next season then say WBA and Leicester the thinking being that Oxford and Blackburn have more chance of being involved in a relegation battle next season then say WBA and Leicester if they survive,… given the lack of prep , Oxford will most likey feel favs , personally I think this is a stone wall drawer just hope we go a bit more attacking minded then Wed .Team depending on injuries
Kaminski ( pending on fitness)
Clarke
Ramsey
Jones
Bell
Fevrier ( wing back bit more attacking )
Coady
Doc
Carey
( Coventry will be looked after with his injury )
Dykes
Kelman9 -
Free hit, doesn’t matter15
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Turn up, score a goal, don't concede any, get the 3 points, then all go to the Pub. SORTED.11
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I think Dykes and Campbell will start. Also, the first choice centre defence. The midfield is the difficult choice, with Rankin-Costello maybe to come in, but who to replace? Coady had a dead leg, so may not start, so Coventry or Doc? Both ran miles on Wednesday...
I hope we try to win (a la Leicester) rather than play for a draw (or drawer as Ronnie suggests!).
COYA!5 -
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12
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Wont be surprised if this is treated as another "must not lose" game and we end up seeing a poor performance with it ending 1-15
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Hope he doesn’t drop Mannion after 2 clean sheets.1-0 win.9
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RonnieMoore said:This was billed us our biggest game of the season about a month ago but how times have changed ..but looking at it from a selfish point of view would we prefer Blackburn and Oxford in the championship next season then say WBA and Leicester the thinking being that Oxford and Blackburn have more chance of being involved in a relegation battle next season then say WBA and Leicester if they survive,… given the lack of prep , Oxford will most likey feel favs , personally I think this is a stone wall drawer just hope we go a bit more attacking minded then Wed .Team depending on injuries
Kaminski ( pending on fitness)
Clarke
Ramsey
Jones
Bell
Fevrier ( wing back bit more attacking )
Coady
Doc
Carey
( Coventry will be looked after with his injury )
Dykes
Kelman
9 -
No Wins in the last 7 League games at the Kassam StadiumThe only time Charlton Athletic have won at the Kassam Stadium was a FA Cup Third Round Replay back in January 2014 when they won by 3 goals to nil with a brace from Yann Kermorgant and a goal from Danny Green
Oxford with 3 League wins in a row against a Charlton side unbeaten in their last 4 Away League games (W 2 D 2)0 -
COYR1
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Would take a draw here. Every point away from home is a good one from this point.
Keep it tight and can see gaps appearing in the second half as for them it’s must win7 -
Forever addicted has got the team and subs absolutely correct - get Rankin - Costello on for the last 20 when one of the midfield tires.1
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...........Mannion
Ramsay Jones Bell
Clarke Carey Cov Doc Chambers
........Dykes TC
is how I think we'll line up.
I'd be very happy with a draw. Oxford are a team bang in form and I rate Bloomfield as a manager after what he's done both there and at Wycombe. They're good at set pieces and are looking increasingly hard to beat.
This will be a good test of how we play against a team that doesn't want the ball as much as 'Boro, Brum, and Soton. Wrexham would be a decent example, and we played well against them. A win and I think we're safe. A draw and we're hard to catch. COYR.1 -
After the Lord Mayor Show1
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We rested Jones except for last 5 mins and also Bell and Ramsay played less than a half each…Dykes and Campbell as well. JRC in for Coventry. Draw will do us.1
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RonnieMoore said:chance of being involved in a relegation battle next season then say WBA and Leicester if they survive,… given the lack of prep , Oxford will most likey feel favs , personally I think this is a stone wall drawer just hope we go a bit more attacking minded then Wed .Team depending on injuries
Kaminski ( pending on fitness)
Clarke
Ramsey
Jones
Bell
Fevrier ( wing back bit more attacking )
Coady
Doc
Carey
( Coventry will be looked after with his injury )
Dykes
Kelman
19 -
Just do not lose, they will be difficult for us. They like us play with 10 men back, we struggle to break teams like that down.3
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Tough one aftrr Wednesday as the players will be shattered and Oxford have hit form but they will be tired too. But our record there is terrible. A hard fought draw, 1-1
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The fact you think Kaminski walks straight back into this team shows how garrity you really are! That being said, my old man will have kittens if the allegiance between NJ and Kaminski comes to fruition tomorrow come 11.15am!!RonnieMoore said:This was billed us our biggest game of the season about a month ago but how times have changed ..but looking at it from a selfish point of view would we prefer Blackburn and Oxford in the championship next season then say WBA and Leicester the thinking being that Oxford and Blackburn have more chance of being involved in a relegation battle next season then say WBA and Leicester if they survive,… given the lack of prep , Oxford will most likey feel favs , personally I think this is a stone wall drawer just hope we go a bit more attacking minded then Wed .Team depending on injuries
Kaminski ( pending on fitness)
Clarke
Ramsey
Jones
Bell
Fevrier ( wing back bit more attacking )
Coady
Doc
Carey
( Coventry will be looked after with his injury )
Dykes
Kelman1 -
After the Incredible result on Wednesday, I'll take a draw today.However, jumping above QPR has made me greedy to chase down more teams (Stoke, Bristol) before end of the season, and another three points would almost definitely confirm we are staying up and focus on moving higher.It would be great to get safety asap and start giving plenty of Championship minutes and experience to players before next season, ala Fullah, JRC...2
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Dont want to be a Debbie Downer, but I didnt realise we couldnt win the title anymore...
4 -
Will be on the 9.22 out of Paddington. Hearing it's a bit of a trek to the ground from the station?0
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- Oxford are unbeaten in seven home league meeting with Charlton (W4 D3) since a 2-1 defeat in January 1998.
- Charlton Athletic are looking to complete their first league double over Oxford United since the 1997-98 campaign.
- Oxford have won just one of their last 12 league games that have kicked off at 12.30pm (D7 L4), a 1-0 home win over Derby in October this season.
- Charlton boss Nathan Jones has won all three of his Football League matches against Oxford United, beating them twice with Luton and with the Addicks earlier this season.
- Charlton have won their last four league games against sides with United in their name, winning all four games 1-0.
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