Oxford United vs Manchester City Predictions

• Man City have won each of their last seven matches against lower-league opposition.
• When this pair met in this competition (at this venue) last season, Man City won by three goals to nil.
• Man City have conceded in none of their last four matches against teams operating below the Premier League.

Tough task for hosts

After a rocky start ruined their chances of seriously challenging for the top six last term, Oxford have given themselves every chance of finishing in the play-offs this time around. Karl Robinson’s men currently sit eighth in League One, a single point behind sixth-placed Rotherham.

However, after some excellent form, the U’s seem to be moving in the wrong direction at precisely the wrong time, not least because they’re about to go up against one of the best teams in the country. Oxford have won none of their last three fixtures (in all competitions), two of which they’ve lost. If that wasn’t bad enough, they’re without a goal during that time too, failing to score against Exeter, Shrewsbury and MK Dons. They’ll have to improve if they want to make headway against Man City, that’s for sure.

More of the same for City

Overall, Man City have failed so far this season; there can be no getting away from that. We’re not yet at Christmas, but there is a huge chasm between them and Premier League-leaders Liverpool, so much so any title challenge Pep Guardiola’s men had hopes of now seems a thing of the past.

Fortunately, City are still fighting on three other fronts, and given their relative struggles in the league, they’re likely to take all three of their remaining cup competitions very seriously. As far as this competition goes, they’ll be looking for more of the same after lifting the trophy in each of the last two seasons.

This will be the second time Oxford and Man City have met in little more than a year. The pair met in an earlier round last term. On that occasion, The Citizens breezed into the next round courtesy of a simple 3-0 win. Guardiola will expect more of the same.

Visitors too strong

The bet that stands out is ‘Man City to Win & Under 4.5 Goals’. For all Man City should have far too much in the locker for their League One hosts, they’re not fancied to completely run riot.

After all, Guardiola’s men haven’t scored more than three goals in an away League Cup game in over three years, while changes in personnel are likely. For our correct score prediction, we’re going for a 3-0 City win.