Oxford United vs Hartlepool Predictions

• Oxford are now unbeaten in eight home games, six of which they’ve won.
• Oxford have now gone seven League 1 matches at home without conceding a goal.
• Hartlepool have won just one of their last five and have lost each of their last two on the road.
• Hartlepool have conceded two or more goals in four of their last five travelling matches.

U’s continue to impress

Oxford’s winning run was ended by Doncaster on New Year’s Day, but under the astute management of Karl Robinson, the U’s remain a side on the up. They’re now 4^th in the league and it’s fair to say that promotion is certainly within their grasp.

Playing at home has suited Oxford down to the ground over the last few months or so. Robinson’s men are unbeaten in their last eight League 1 matches at Kassam Stadium. They’ve won six of those and have now kept seven clean sheets in a row. All over the pitch, The U’s have impressed in front of their own fans.

With promotion their main aim, this fixture may be viewed as a bit of a distraction, though after losing narrowly last time out a home game against Non-League opponents presents Oxford with an excellent opportunity to start building momentum again.

Away form a problem for visitors

Hartlepool have done well to get this far, while they showed that they’re no mugs when getting the better of League 2’s Exeter in the previous round, though this is where they could start to struggle.

Not only are they up against one of the best teams in League 1, but the visitors come into this match in relatively poor shape having lost three of their last five. They’ve also lost each of their last two on the road, conceding six goals in the process. Such defensive form isn’t what’s required ahead of a match against a side that is so tough to face on their own patch. Not only have Hartlepool conceded six in their last two on the road, but they’ve also conceded two or more in four of their last five.

U’s too good

Quite simply, even if they rotate slightly, Oxford are far too good for a Hartlepool side that is in the bottom half in the National League. While the visitors have been conceding an abundance of goals on their travels, shipping 11 in five away matches in the fifth division, The U’s, who’re League 1’s third-best team in terms of shots on target conceded at home, have been keeping clean sheets for fun at home in League 1. They’ve also beaten Tranmere, Gillingham, Doncaster and Rotherham by two or more goals at home in last few months, which suggests that they’ll have more than enough in the tank to overcome Saturday’s visitors. A straightforward win is on the cards and punters can profit by siding with ‘Oxford -1 Handicap’.