Stoke City vs Oxford United Predictions

• Both teams have not scored in three of Stoke’s last four Championship games and four of Oxford’s last five in the league
• Stoke City have failed to score in three of their last four league games
• The U’s have kept clean sheets in each of their last two away Championship games

Oxford have tightened up under Bloomfield

Oxford’s improving defensive record suggests Stoke may have their work cut out to claim three points in Wednesday’s Championship match at bet365 Stadium. The U’s have kept four clean sheets in the eight league games they have played under Matt Bloomfield, who took the reins in January.

The ex-Wycombe Wanderers boss has instilled some solidity and organisation in a backline that had been far too easily breached with his side having held the two clubs currently in the automatic promotion positions to 0-0 draws on their own patches within the last month.

Those back-to-back away Championship clean sheets at Coventry and Middlesbrough are more than the U’s registered in their first 15 road trips this term and it’s the first time the club have recorded successive away shutouts in the second tier since November 1997.

Boro draw may have drained the U’s energy levels 

Bloomfield felt his side were better at Boro than against Coventry, where they were just hanging on, because his side hit the post and bar at the Riverside Stadium. They stunned the slow-starting hosts but fell deeper and came under more pressure as the game wore on.

Fatigue from that heroic effort could affect their display on Wednesday and it is worth noting that theylost 3-0 at home to Norwich a few days after the Coventry draw. The fact that Stoke have not been scoring much lately goes in their favour here.

The Potters have failed to score in three of their last four Championship matches, but did find a late equaliser to draw 2-2 against Leicester on Saturday.  Mark Robins’ play-off chasing side might have enough quality to secure a 1-0 or 2-0 win this week but both teams not to score is a better bet.