PREVIEW | Sheffield Wed. vs Oxford United - team news, lineups, predictions | OneFootball

Sheffield Wed. and Oxford United face off this Saturday at Hillsborough in Matchweek 42 of the EFL Championship.

The Owls have picked up 53 points to date and sit 13th in the second tier, Danny Röhl's side pegged back late on in their 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers last time out.

Oxford United, meanwhile, are being sucked back into the relegation vortex. Gary Rowett's U's currently lie in 18th position with 45 points, but their cause was not helped by a 1-3 defeat by QPR at the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday night.

Wednesday won the return fixture earlier in the season 3-1 to give Owls fans cause for optimism.

The Fan Zone

James Mappin (Wednesday Til I Die ): A late goal cost us last week, and then we managed to throw a two goal lead away just a few days ago.

This weekend it’s Oxford who roll into town for the 'Will Vaulks Derby'.

On paper we should have too much for an Oxford side that got soundly beaten in midweek, but our home form is poor. We have not won in seven games at Hillsborough, which takes us back to New Years Day, so we desperately need to bag three points.

We need something to cheer about to take our minds off all of the goings on off the pitch which have dominated much of the discussion for the past few weeks after it was announced that players haven’t been paid.

Prediction: 2-1

Stephen Gillett (Playmaker Stats): The U's travel to South Yorkshire with their survival hopes alive, but under threat!

After a 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough before the international break, Oxford bounced back with a crucial 1-0 win over Sheffield United, thanks to Siriki Dembele’s first-half strike. However, in midweek, Rowett's side were beaten 3-1 by QPR, despite a late rally when Stanley Mills pulled one back.

Sitting three points clear of relegation with five matches left, Oxford head to Hillsborough hoping for a win that would give them a massive boost in their quest to secure their Championship status for next season. A point looks far more realistic than an Oxford victory, however.

Prediction: 1-1

Predicted lineups

Sheffield Wed.: Pierce Charles, Pol Valentín, Yan Valery, Michael Ihiekwe, Gabriel Otegbayo, Marvin Johnson, Djeidi Gassama, Svante Ingelsson, Shea Charles, Anthony Musaba, Callum Paterson

Oxford United: Jamie Cumming, Hidde ter Avest, Michal Helik, Ben Nelson, Joe Bennett, Will Vaulks, Cameron Brannagan, Przemyslaw Placheta, Rúben Rodrigues, Tyler Goodrham, Tom Bradshaw

Unavailable

Sheffield Wed.

Oxford United

Last starting XIs

Sheffield Wed. ( vs Blackburn Rovers 2025-04-08): Pierce Charles, Pol Valentín, Michael Ihiekwe, Yan Valery, Gabriel Otegbayo, Marvin Johnson, Djeidi Gassama, Shea Charles, Svante Ingelsson, Anthony Musaba, Callum Paterson

Oxford United ( vs QPR 2025-04-09): Jamie Cumming, Hidde ter Avest, Ben Nelson, Michal Helik, Ciaron Brown, Will Vaulks, Cameron Brannagan, Przemyslaw Placheta, Ole Romeny, Siriki Dembélé, Mark Harris