Oxford United vs Derby County: Predictions, Betting odds, Lineups, Preview

Explore Coral's detailed preview for Oxford United vs Derby County in the Championship. Stats, odds, predictions, and lineups for the 12:30 BST match.

• Fixture: Oxford United vs Derby County

• Date: Saturday, 18 October 2025

• Kick-off: 12:30 BST

• Venue: The Kassam Stadium

Match Prediction: Oxford United 2-1 Derby County

Oxford United's recent form suggests a team capable of scoring but struggling to secure wins, as evidenced by their 3-1 victory over Bristol City and draws against Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City. They might look to exploit Derby's defensive vulnerabilities, particularly after Derby's recent 0-1 loss to Preston North End. Oxford's attacking flair, led by players like Lankshear and Prelec, could pose a significant threat to Derby's backline.

Derby County, on the other hand, have shown resilience with a series of draws against Southampton, Charlton, and Wrexham. Their ability to hold strong teams to draws indicates a solid defensive structure, which could be crucial against Oxford's attacking prowess. However, their lack of recent wins might affect their confidence, and they will need to be more clinical in front of goal to secure a victory.

Oxford United's recent form has been inconsistent, with a mix of losses, draws, and a single win. Their 3-1 victory against Bristol City showcases their potential to score goals, but losses to Watford and Sheffield United highlight defensive frailties. This inconsistency might lead to a cautious approach against Derby, focusing on maintaining a solid defence while looking for opportunities to counter-attack.

Recent Championship Results:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Watford (A)

• Draw: 0-0 vs Queens Park Rangers (A)

• Loss: 0-1 vs Sheffield United (H)

• Win: 3-1 vs Bristol City (A)

• Draw: 2-2 vs Leicester City (H)

Derby County have been drawing frequently, with three consecutive 1-1 results against Southampton, Charlton, and Wrexham. This suggests a team that can hold their own but struggles to convert draws into wins. Their recent loss to Preston North End at home might impact their confidence, but their solid defensive performances could help them stay competitive against Oxford United.

Recent Championship Results:

• Draw: 1-1 vs Southampton (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Charlton Athletic (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Wrexham (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Preston North End (H)
• Win: 1-0 vs West Bromwich Albion (A)

The head-to-head record between Oxford United and Derby County shows a closely contested rivalry, with their most recent encounters resulting in a 0-0 draw in February 2025 and a 1-1 draw in October 2024. These results suggest that matches between these two teams are often tight and competitive, with neither side able to dominate the other. This history could set the stage for another closely fought battle.

• Derby County 0-0 Oxford United (11 Feb 2025)

• Oxford United 1-1 Derby County (22 Oct 2024)

• Ole Romeny (Foot) - Doubt
• Brodie Spencer (Thigh) - Doubt
• Matthew Phillips (Knock) - Doubt
• Ciaron Brown (Leg) - Doubt

• Liam Thompson (Hip) - Doubt

• Owen Beck (Hamstring) - Doubt

• Corey Blackett-Taylor (Hamstring) - Doubt

• Curtis Nelson (Cruciate Ligament) - Doubt

• Sondre Langås (Knee) - Doubt

• Predicted lineup: Cumming, Spencer, Helik, Long, Leigh, Mills, De Keersmaecker, Brannagan, Dembélé, Prelec, Lankshear

Oxford United's predicted lineup suggests a focus on maintaining a strong midfield presence with Brannagan and De Keersmaecker, while relying on the attacking prowess of Lankshear and Prelec to break down Derby's defence.

• Predicted lineup: Zetterström, Johnston, Sanderson, Clarke, Forsyth, Travis, Ozoh, Weimann, Morris, Clark, Agyemang

Derby County's predicted lineup indicates a strategy centered around a robust defence led by Clarke and Sanderson, with Morris and Weimann expected to provide the necessary offensive threat to challenge Oxford's backline.

• Siriki Dembélé vs Matt Clarke: This matchup will see Oxford's forward Dembélé test Derby's solid defender Clarke with his pace and finishing ability.

• Stanley Mills vs David Ozoh: Oxford's midfielder Mills will need to outmaneuvre Derby's Ozoh in the midfield to control the game's tempo.

• Nik Prelec (Oxford United): Prelec's versatility and ability to contribute both defensively and offensively make him a crucial player for Oxford United.

• Patrick Agyemang (Derby County): His role as a forward for Derby will be vital, as his goal-scoring ability could be the difference in a tight match.

Coral brings you the most exciting and the to enhance your experience.

For the best Championship outright predictions, explore our guide.

Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.