BURTON v OXFORD – Pick: Both to score – 29 January 2012

Brewers and U's to serve up goals

January 28th, 2012 / Armchair Punter

League Two

Sunday 29^th January 2012 – Kickoff: 1500hrs

The Pirelli Stadium is the setting for my next pick as Burton Albion take on Oxford United in the solitary League Two fixture on Sunday afternoon.

Burton are suffering a slump in form currently with no wins in their last five league matches with defeats against Hereford United, Accrington Stanley and Plymouth Argyle, with just two draws at Morecambe and Bradford City this means that Peschisolido’s men have picked up just two points from the last fifteen.

What is more of a concern is that two of their recent three defeats have been at the hands of teams at the bottom of the division ie Plymouth and Hereford, and a visiting Oxford United team high on confidence will certainly be a stern test for them.

The Brewers’ home record stands at 6-4-3 16/15 which at first doesn’t appear to be too bad, but they’ve lost their last two on the bounce and have not beaten Oxford in their last five league meetings between the two sides.

Leading scorer striker Billy Kee (12 goals) is again very doubtful following his absence at Bradford, along with Aaron Webster (2 goals, 5 assists) who is also expected to be missing. They do however have Justin Richards (10 goals, 4 assists) and former Crewe marksman Calvin Zola (8 goals, 1 assist) while Jacques Maghoma (5 assists) has been the main provider of the assists.

Play-off incumbents Oxford United travel to Derbyshire on the back of a four match unbeaten streak away from home which has seen them occupy the last remaining play-off place at the moment.

The U’s away record stands at 6-3-5 15/13, and they will be reasonably confident of getting something at Pirelli Stadium following recent away wins at AFC Wimbledon and Aldershot Town, and getting points at Morecambe and Torquay United.

Striker James Constable (8 goals, 1 assist) leads the way but is well supported by ex-MK Dons midfielder Peter Leven (6 goals, 9 assists) and forward Jon-Paul Pittman (3 goals), while midfielder Simon Heslop (3 goals, 3 assists) has also chipped in.

However, right-back Damien Batt will miss the trip to Burton due to being suspended.

This could be an interesting match-up here, with both teams capable of finding the net – I’ll take both to score in what could end up a 1-1 draw.

Pick: Both teams to score @ 1.73 William Hill